08-03-2014, 01:39 AM
There's a military history/ arms and armor question that has been stumping me for quite some time. Is there any known reason for (or at the very least extant theories about) for the change in mail construction between the Roman and Medieval periods in Europe?
Whereas the Romans alternated a row of solid links with a row of riveted links, later European mail was entirely constructed out of riveted links. As far as I can see, the latter method seems to be more involved and labor-intensive than the former without providing any real advantage. So why the changeover? What are its advantages, if any?
And around when did it happen? Did it perhaps have something to do with a lack of access to certain Roman industrial processes?
Whereas the Romans alternated a row of solid links with a row of riveted links, later European mail was entirely constructed out of riveted links. As far as I can see, the latter method seems to be more involved and labor-intensive than the former without providing any real advantage. So why the changeover? What are its advantages, if any?
And around when did it happen? Did it perhaps have something to do with a lack of access to certain Roman industrial processes?
