Design and types of swords changed throughout the history to accommodate new ways of warfare. They changed shape, materials from which they were made and techniques of fight as well. Not all of the swords were real but that does not make them any less important.
During the history swords changed in accordance to innovations in metallurgy and styles of fight. Today we have tens and tens of different types of swords from those dating from Bronze Age to those used in modern fencing. Read more about types of swords.
Classification of swords is used to bring some order in a wide range of different swords that appeared throughout the history and to make research of swords easier as well as to help to understanding of the development of the sword.
Some swords played as important parts in history as the people that wielded them. Because of that, they earned names in time and by those names we know them today. Read about famous historical swords.
Myths and legends have their own share of swords, be they magical or just with a name because they belonged to a hero or a legendary person. Some of them are both historical and legendary at the same time.
Fiction is full of swords, especially fantasy. Coming from myths and legends, these swords are usually magical or have a history behind that makes them important for a story and almost a character on par with others.