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Islamic Scimitar

Type Object Region West Asia Time c. 600–700

A cold weapon that gradually took shape in West Asia in the 7th century, characterized by a single-edged curved blade and cavalry slashing.…

Timeline

  1. c. 600–630Sasanian Persia and the steppe margins of Central Asia · Iranian PlateauThe Sasanian Empire and Central Asian nomadic powers already made extensive use of curved single-edged blades; the forward-curving blade suited mounted slashing, laying the technical foundation for the form of the Islamic scimitar.
  2. c. 630–700Armorer workshop districts around Damascus and Baghdad · SyriaAfter the Islamic conquests, West Asian armorers combined Persian scimitar craftsmanship with Arab cavalry needs; the scimitar became the standard close-combat weapon of cavalry, its form tending toward uniformity and spreading with the conquests.

Sources