The sword has always played an important role as both a military weapon and a symbol of honor. Although no longer used as a weapon in our armed services, its mystique can still be seen today as a ceremonial part of military uniforms.

The earliest evidence of sword fighting as sport (more commonly known as fencing) has been found in Egypt dating from around 1200 BC where reliefs depict combatants with knobs on the end of weapons, earflaps and other protective gear.  Greek and Roman civilizations favored short wide swords and with the collapse of the Roman Empire came longer heavier swords like those known to be used by knights of the middle ages.

The fourteenth century saw two technologies introduced that would have a dramatic effect on the future of warfare and the development of the sword.  The first was heavy rigid body armor that covered the entire body and the second was gunpowder.  Both of these made the use of heavy long swords less effective and swords became increasingly slimmer and lighter.  As thrusting weapons, swords were light enough to allow it's users to move quickly and they could now take advantage of the natural weaknesses of heavy body armor such as openings for the eyes, groin, insides of elbows and behind the knees.

A phenomenon that accompanied the development of these lighter thrusting swords was that they were well adapted to fighting against lightly armored civilian opponents.  They also became more easily worn as part of everyday dress.  By the sixteenth century the sword had taken on a role of fashion accessory worn by any gentleman or anyone aspiring to be a gentleman.  Although illegal, dueling became a common way of settling disputes of every kind.  Out of necessity, one wearing a sword was required to gain some instruction on the use of the weapon he carried so as not to become the victim of another, more adept at its use.  So we find the early origins of the modern sport of fencing.  The word fencing is derived from the word 'defense'
Attempts to organize a single approach to fencing began in Frankfurt Germany with the founding of the Fraternity of St. Mark, better known as Marxbruder.  Scientific methods of analyzing human responses during combat began to emerge as a viable way of developing systems that could be taught and repeated by combatants during these brutal encounters.  The first two fencing manuals were published in 1471 and 1474.
Two distinct approaches to fencing dominated thought regarding style. The French school relied on strategy while the Italian style leaned toward physical strength. Training of students of both methods was accomplished originally with standard weapons, the same that might be used in a duel.  The "fleuret", or foil was developed in the 17^th century.  It was a lighter training weapon for dueling.  Also around this time rules such as 'right-of-way' became accepted which made the game a series of alternating attacks and defense.  This made fencing safer as combatants were less likely to impale each other. 

In the 18th century, treatises appeared in print setting forth the current system of rules and scoring, and prescribing the foil, a metal mask with eye slit, and protective jacket or vest as equipment for use.  The rules were intended to simulate real combat while protecting the safety of the combatants.

By the time fencing reached America in the 1860's it was not the violent sport it once was.  The first American fencing school was founded in 1874.  Dueling did not completely die out until after the end of World War I but fencing as sport has survived and thrived in spite of it's antiquated origins.