Editing Arms control (section)

===Pre-19th century===
One of the first recorded attempts in arms control was a set of rules laid down in ancient Greece by the [[Amphictyonic League]]s. Rulings specified how war could be waged, and breaches of this could be punished by fines or by war.

In the 8th and 9th centuries AD, [[sword]]s and [[chain mail]] armor manufactured in the [[Frankish empire]] were highly sought after for their quality, and [[Charlemagne]] (r. 768–814), made their sale or export to foreigners illegal, punishable by forfeiture of property or even death.  This was an attempt to limit the possession and use of this equipment by the Franks' enemies, including the [[Moors]], the [[Vikings]] and the [[Slavs]].

The church used its position as a trans-national organization to limit the means of warfare. The 989 [[Peace and Truce of God|Peace of God]] (extended in 1033) ruling protected noncombatants, agrarian and economic facilities, and the property of the church from war. The 1027 [[Truce of God]] also tried to prevent violence between Christians. The [[Second Lateran Council]] in 1139 prohibited the use of [[crossbow]]s against other Christians, although it did not prevent its use against non-Christians.

The development of [[firearms]] led to an increase in the devastation of war.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Mortality associated with use of weapons in armed conflicts, wartime atrocities, and civilian mass shootings |year=1999 |pmc=28193 |last1=Coupland |first1=R. M. |last2=Meddings |first2=D. R. |journal=BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) |volume=319 |issue=7207 |pages=407–410 |doi=10.1136/bmj.319.7207.407 |pmid=10445920 }}</ref> The brutality of wars during this period led to efforts to formalize the rules of war, with humane treatment for [[prisoners of war]] or wounded, as well as rules to protect non-combatants and the [[Pillage|pillaging]] of their property. However, during the period until the beginning of the 19th century few formal arms control agreements were recorded, except theoretical proposals and those imposed on defeated armies.

One treaty which was concluded was the [[Strasbourg Agreement (1675)|Strasbourg Agreement of 1675]]. This is the first international agreement limiting the use of [[chemical weapon]]s, in this case, poison bullets. The treaty was signed between France and [[The Holy Roman Empire]]