A shield is a protective device, meant to intercept attacks. The term often refers to a device that's held in the hand, as opposed to armour or a bullet proof vest. Prehistoric and Antiquity The oldest form of shield was a protection used to block attacks by hand weapons, such as swords, axes and maces or missiles like spears and arrows. Shields have varied greatly in construction over time and place. Sometimes shields were made of metal, but wood or animal hide construction was much more commo… (More on Shields)