Weapons evolved dramatically from early civilization until the time of the Greeks. The earliest discovered weapon was a spear made from a wooden branch and a chunk of rock. There are two areas in which progress was made with primitive weapons: sharpness of the point and force of delivery. The sharpness allows for more damage when it hits its target. Speed is key in increasing the force of the weapon. Early on man discovered the need to improve beyond just what a human arm could do. The first weapon developed was the sling. It was often made of vegetable fibers or animal hide. A person would place objects, typically small stones into the sling. Then the sling would be rotated by the wrist and forearm increasing speed until the stone was released. Slingers played an important role in wars throughout ancient history. In a famous biblical story, David used a sling to kill the Philistine giant Goliath. The next improvement for speed and delivery was the bow and arrow. Man discovered a storehouse of power within a bent strip of wood. They harnessed this power by tying a string to either end while it was bent. Then they modified spears into smaller missiles and used the bow to shoot them at their target. The bow was typically made from yew or elm wood. They also produced sharp flint arrows with barbs which secured the arrow in the victim in a process called knapping. With the discovery of metal and metalworking, weapons and armor took a huge leap forward. Before, any armor would have been made primarily from animal hides and leather. A great example of this development is shown with the Greek Hoplite soldiers. Ancient Greece used citizen soldier, called Hoplites and they were called upon to fight in times of crisis. Their name was adapted by the shield, which was called Hoplon. It is translated as “man-in-arms”. The Hoplites were expected to provide their own equipment. This resulted in equipment varying from soldier to soldie