††Shields were used by the Ancient Greeks as added protection to their metal armour. Their shields were round, whereas Roman shields were oblong and curved to protect the sides of the body. Most early shields were made of wood or leather. Wooden shields were still being used by the Vikings in 750 to 1000 AD, while the shields carried during the Norman conquest of Britain in 1066 were made of leather over a wooden frame, with metal reinforcements. Shields became obsolete once firearms were used in combat.
