From the earliest prehistoric use of the humble basic spear to the height of its medieval development as the powerful lance, this most simple and effective tool of war has been decisive in many important battles.  The principle of the lance was to take the simple and effective spear and harness it with the full power and impact of a horse. The long, heavy and tapered shape of the lance made for a devastating weapon that turned the frightening medieval cavalry charge into an even more formidable component of the battlefield.