The samurai were well-trained Japanese warriors who lived from roughly the 12th century to the 19th century. The word ‘samurai’ means ‘those who serve’. They were taught to fight with bows and arrows, swords and in hand-to-hand combat using martial arts. They were also excellent horsemen. The most important thing to a samurai was his honour. This code of honour was called ‘bushido’ which means ‘the way of the warrior’.

In the 12th century, the samurai fought in a civil war between two powerful families called the Taira and Minamoto. The Minamoto eventually won and their leader, Yoritomo Minamoto, became the first shogun (military leader). He was known as a great warrior and statesmen in Japan. By the 16th and 17th centuries, samurai warriors were hardly needed to fight battles anymore. By the end of the 19th century, the samurai class had been abolished and swords had been banned.

Zulu warriors were very well-trained and effective soldiers who lived in Zululand. Zulu warriors were called ‘impis’ and they fought with a stabbing spear (called an ‘assegai’) and a club (or ‘knobkerrie’). They also carried large, oval shields. Shaka Zulu (1787-1828) was a famous Zulu warrior and king. He taught his soldiers to be tougher and stronger, and provided them with better weapons.

Shaka Zulu was known to be fearless and cruel, but he created one of the strongest armies on the African continent. The Zulu warriors suffered their worst defeat against the Voortrekkers at the Battle of Blood River in 1838. However, they claimed a victory against the British when they fought at Isandlwana in 1879, although they eventually lost the  Anglo-Zulu War.

Knights lived in Europe during the Middle Ages. A knight would start training at the age of seven and would eventually be knighted at the age of 21. In return for their service, knights were often given land, armour, weapons, horses and money by their lord or king. Knights were known for fighting on horseback, but they could also fight on the ground.

Their most important weapon was their sword, but they would also fight with a lance (long spear), axe or mace (a stick with an iron ball on one end). Many knights fought in the Crusades, which were a number of religious wars that lasted for more than 200 years. When the first guns were introduced, the skills that knights had learnt were no longer needed for fighting and they were soon replaced by professional soldiers.