Editing Shield (section)

{{Short description|Item of armour carried to intercept attacks or projectiles}}
{{About|the defensive device|other uses|Shield (disambiguation)|and|Shields (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2019}}
[[File:The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics. By (14762645001).jpg |thumb |[[Zulu people|Zulu]] chief Goza and two of his councillors in war-dress, all with [[Nguni shield]]s, {{c.|1870}}. The size of the shield on the chief's left arm denotes his status, and the white colour that he is a married man.<ref name="wood">{{cite book|last1=Wood|first1=J. G.|title=The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world|date=1870|publisher=Рипол Классик |isbn=9785878634595 |page=115 |url=https://archive.org/stream/uncivilizedraces01wood/uncivilizedraces01wood#page/114/mode/1up}}</ref>]]
[[File:NAMA Mycènes bouclier 1.jpg|thumb|Wall painting depicting a [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean Greek]] "figure eight", 15th century BC, [[National Archaeological Museum, Athens]]]]

A '''shield''' is a piece of [[personal armour]] held in the hand, which may or may not be [[Strapped shield|strapped]] to the wrist or forearm.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-04 |title=Definition of SHIELD |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shield |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry like [[Spear|spears]] or long ranged projectiles such as [[arrow]]s. They function as means of active blocks, as well as to provide passive protection by closing one or more lines of engagement during combat.

Shields vary greatly in size and shape, ranging from large panels that protect the user's whole body to small models (such as the [[buckler]]) that were intended for hand-to-hand-combat use. Shields also vary a great deal in thickness; whereas some shields were made of relatively deep, absorbent, wooden planking to protect soldiers from the impact of [[spear]]s and [[crossbow]] bolts, others were thinner and lighter and designed mainly for deflecting blade strikes (like the [[roromaraugi]] or [[qauata]]). Finally, shields vary greatly in shape, ranging in roundness to angularity, proportional length and width, symmetry and edge pattern; different shapes provide more optimal protection for infantry or cavalry, enhance portability, provide secondary uses such as ship protection or as a weapon and so on.

In prehistory and during the era of the earliest civilisations, shields were made of wood, animal hide, woven reeds or [[wicker]]. In classical antiquity, the [[Barbarian Invasions]] and the [[Middle Ages]], they were normally constructed of poplar tree, lime or another split-resistant timber, covered in some instances with a material such as leather or rawhide and often reinforced with a metal boss, rim or banding. They were carried by foot soldiers, knights and cavalry.

Depending on time and place, shields could be round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, bilabial or scalloped. Sometimes they took on the form of kites or flatirons, or had rounded tops on a rectangular base with perhaps an eye-hole, to look through when used with combat. The shield was held by a central grip or by straps with some going over or around the user's arm and one or more being held by the hand.

Often shields were decorated with a painted pattern or an animal representation to show their army or clan. It was common for Aristocratic officials such and [[Knight|knights]], [[Baron|barons]], [[Duke|dukes]], and [[King|kings]] to have their shields painted with customary designs known as a [[coat of arms]]. These designs developed into systematized [[heraldic]] devices during the [[High Middle Ages]] for purposes of battlefield identification. Even after the introduction of gunpowder and firearms to the battlefield, shields continued to be used by certain groups. In the 18th century, for example, [[Scottish Highland]] fighters liked to wield small shields known as [[targe]]s, and as late as the 19th century, some non-industrialized peoples (such as [[Zulu Kingdom|Zulu]] warriors) employed them when waging wars.

In the 20th and 21st century, shields have been used by military and police units that specialize in anti-terrorist actions, hostage rescue, riot control and siege-breaking.

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