Lost Knowledge: 5 Unexplained Ancient Instruction Manuals Left by our Ancestors

In the history of medieval martial arts, few documents are as mysterious as Hans Talhoffer's fighting manual. A 15th-century fencing master, Talhoffer authored a series of combat manuscripts, the most enigmatic being his 1467 creation that intertwines martial skill with bewildering illustrations.

This manual, more than a mere instructional guide, is a riddle wrapped in the guise of a combat textbook, challenging modern historians and martial artists with a perplexing blend of fighting techniques and cryptic illustrations of unusual combat scenarios.

Born in the early 1400s, Hans Talhoffer remains a mysterious figure himself. Little is known of his life, but his manuscripts, particularly those from 1443 to 1467, are a trove of historical combat methods, capturing a world where martial skill was a key to survival and honor.

Some evidence points to him being a member of the Marxbrüder fencing guild. Recognized by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, this group could bestow the title "master of the long sword" to proficient members, which would then entitle them to twice the pay of an ordinary soldier.

Talhoffer's famed 1467 manual encompasses a wide range of fighting techniques, including unarmed combat, dagger fighting, longsword techniques, and even combat in armor. The illustrations are vivid but notably cryptic. Unlike modern manuals, Talhoffer's work lacks explanatory text, leaving the interpretation of sequences open-ended...