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Civilization bonuses[edit | edit source]

History[edit | edit source]

The shield was probably the first piece of military equipment developed to protect a warrior.  The earliest were made of wood or wood and hide, and were in various shapes. They were carried in the hand or on the forearm and used to ward off blows or missiles in battle. Shield designs and materials evolved to keep up with advances in weapons. Wood and hide shields were easy to smash with bronze weapons, so bronze shields were developed. Bronze shields also provided better defense against missiles. Arrows, especially with metal points, were prone to lodge in wooden shields. This increased the weight of the shield and made it more unwieldy. Roman legions threw spears at barbarian formations mainly so they would pierce and weigh down the enemy's shield just before closing. Arrows and other missiles deflected off bronze shields without penetration.
Age of Empires manual