When was armor made?

Answer 1

The earliest forms of shields were woven mats, in Persia and in China (bamboo). Chinese armor originally consisted of turtle shells, but became heavier layers of leather, and later bronze. A common design was a "coat" of overlapping leather or metal plates, to deflect cutting weapons. Between the 4th and 7th centuries, China acquired the familiar "chain mail" armor, made from interwoven metal links. This likely came from Persia.

In Europe, the oldest metal armor dates from about 1400 BC in Greece. Armored breastplates became common in the Roman Army, which used leather as well as bronze and other metals. This became the full-armor suits of the chivalric period, beginning in the 5th century concurrent with the fall of Rome. Heavy and complex designs were seen for ceremonial armor. (Chain mail, which required intricate metalworking, first appeared around 500 BC and became incorporated into some armor.) The legendary King Arthur and Camelot date from the 5th or 6th century AD. Armored knights took part in most of the major wars from 600 to 1700 AD, including the Spanish conquests in the Americas.

As the weapons designed to penetrate armor were improved, so was the armor. The medieval knights of England and France wore heavy metal suits and helmets, but by 1500 these had to deal with improved arrows and crossbows, and with the advent of hand cannons and muskets around the same time.