F ROM THE ROCK FIRST HELD in the hands of Paleolithic man to the twenty-first century assault rifle, weapons have been an integral component in human history. As early humans evolved, so did their technology. Small rocks became specialized tools and weapons. These early innovations helped man in his quest for food, and eventually in protecting both family and territory. Stone technology gave way to metallurgy and as humans passed through each period of history-copper, bronze, and iron- their use and development of weapons increased. With the advent of agriculture and animal domestication, the reliance on weapons shifted from hunting food to protection from wild animals and other humans. Newly acquired possessions-food, animals, and shelter-carried intrinsic wealth and brought status. Humans used weapons to protect both. Read Here