| Even during the ancient times, man | | | | did the armor used to protect against |
| already knew the importance of | | | | them. Armor during this period tended to |
| protecting one's head with helmets. He | | | | be heavy and cumbersome. Some armor made |
| could afford damage to any part of his | | | | moving around a tremendous task. In |
| body. But if he was to receive a blow to | | | | fact, the knight's medieval armor was so |
| the head, that could prove to be fatal. | | | | thick that the person inside the armor |
| Helmets, therefore, were developed to | | | | was at risk from fainting due to heat. |
| keep their heads from any sharp blows | | | | The helmets of those days were sturdy |
| and damage. | | | | and heavy. The faces of their users were |
| During those days, warlike tribes roamed | | | | complete hidden by a movable visor. |
| the earth looking for territory to | | | | Because their faces were hidden it |
| occupy. Fierce battles were not | | | | became custom for knights to carry |
| uncommon. And these early armies quickly | | | | identifying marks on their shields and |
| learned that those who came to battle | | | | banners. This led to the development of |
| fully prepared usually walked away from | | | | heraldry. |
| them in one piece. | | | | The Persians used a type of helmet that |
| To earn a decided advantage in these | | | | had a camail, or curtail-like attachment |
| conflicts, they decided to develop | | | | that protected the sides of the face and |
| weapons to increase the damage they | | | | the neck. |
| dealt, and armor to decrease the damage | | | | With the advent of guns in the |
| they received. | | | | battlefield, plate armor became |
| These people learned that the head was | | | | obsolete. The only part of the armor to |
| most vulnerable to sharp swings of | | | | survive this revolution was the cuirass |
| bladed weapons, punctures from arrows, | | | | (breastplate) and helmet. |
| and the dull thwack of blunt | | | | As guns replaced swords, men started to |
| instruments. To protect against such, | | | | rely on foxholes and sandbags to protect |
| these people used rudimentary helmets. | | | | them against bullets. Personal armor |
| The Sumerians, a warlike tribe that | | | | lost favor in standing armies. However, |
| thrived in 3000 B.C., where the first to | | | | helmets were still needed to protect the |
| use helmets to war. Their tight-fitting | | | | soldier from shrapnel and ricochet. |
| helmets were made of beaten copper to | | | | These helmets were now made of steel to |
| protect against sudden blow to the head. | | | | provide better protection and mobility. |
| The Assyrians, on the other hand, had | | | | Nowadays, helmets are still used as |
| helmets that were cone-shaped. These | | | | standard battle gear. They are may be |
| helmets also had small earflap to | | | | made out of steel or other material that |
| protect against undue damage to the soft | | | | protects against high-velocity |
| ear tissue. | | | | projectiles and shrapnel. |
| The ancient Greeks went a step further | | | | The most practical use of helmets today |
| by developing bronze helmets that | | | | is in construction work and other |
| covered the entire head. These helmets | | | | industries that employ the use of a hard |
| would only have a Y-shaped slit to allow | | | | hat. These hats are made of tough |
| the soldier to see and to breathe. The | | | | plastic that protects construction |
| Romans used a looser helmet that was | | | | workers and miners from debris. |
| made of either bronze or iron and had | | | | Also, skateboard, bicycle and motorcycle |
| movable cheek pieces. | | | | riders turn to helmets to protect them |
| As the weaponry of the ages improved, so | | | | against crashes. |