Rapier is not light. Many examples are the same weight as lighter longswords, and feel very heavy because they are used one-handed. Smaller thrusting swords like smallsword are an entirely different breed.
More significantly, it wasn't really designed for stabbing. During the rapier's heyday, in the 16th century, it edge was significantly more popular than the point. (Mercutio discusses this when talking about Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet.) As the point became more popular over the next 150 years, the rapier took a backseat to the 18th century French smallsword.
In fencing, the rapier is the direct ancestor to the modern epee. The smallsword is the direct ancestor to the modern foil.
In 1993, there was a lawyer in Toronto who died by accidentally defenestrated himself from the 24th floor of an office building. In addition to being a lawyer, he was also a formally trained engineer. As such, he was apparently a real admirer of everything that went into designing the safety of high rise buildings. On more than one occasion, he demonstrated that safety by leaping into the floor to ceiling windows of the conference room. He was doing exactly that while giving a tour to a new class of interns when, on the second leap into the window, he manged to dislodged it from its frame and plummeted to his death.
More than 7 years later, I have no recollection of doing the quiz, but I wanted to write a similar comment when I got to W. :D Some things never change, I guess.
It's funny, cause I have a weird love/obsession with ancient Mesopotamia and I kept trying "Akkadia" but it actually ends in N. Dont' know why Assyria didn't pop up first in my head lol.
I couldn't understand the question at all. I thought it was asking for the title of a professional who is an expert on these two people. :S Maybe if I had known who they were...
In fencing, the rapier is the direct ancestor to the modern epee. The smallsword is the direct ancestor to the modern foil.
into the trophy wife phenomenon.
"Which state gave way to Croatia?
The Roman Empire"