Visual Timeline: Samurai Sword

To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom.

700 CE 800 CE 900 CE 1000 CE 1100 CE 1200 CE 1300 CE 1400 CE 1500 CE  
 
700 CE: Steel-bladed swords are first made in Japan.
 
 
1580 CE: It becomes fashionable for Japanese samurai to wear two swords: the daisho ("great and small").
 
 
1588 CE: Toyotomi Hideyoshi prohibits commoners from carrying weapons, including swords.
 
 
 
700 CE 800 CE 900 CE 1000 CE 1100 CE 1200 CE 1300 CE 1400 CE 1500 CE