When did people first try to limit which weapons could be used in war? [closed]

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The first example that I know is about chemical weapons after the first world war.

This question is too broad. You should do a google search before asking generic questions of this type. — Tyler Durden, Jun 30, 2014 at 17:03
The question is about a concrete aspect (weapons) in a concrete situation (war) about a concrete topic (ethics.) — Quora Feans, Jun 30, 2014 at 18:33
The question is very similar to this one. Discussion of historical attempts to limit warfare seems in scope to me. I've been struggling to find a clearer more elegant way to express the query, but I'm at a loss. I believe that there is a clearer way to ask the question, but I've got no suggestions that are superior to @QuoraFeans. I also admit that I agree with Mr. Durden that the question would have been improved if it included evidence of prior research. — MCW, Jun 30, 2014 at 18:47
@MarkC.Wallace: yes both are related, although mine is limited by restricting the use of weapons (not entering into whether rape, pillage, killing civilians, salting the earth, submitting the prisoners to slavery is also acceptable.) — Quora Feans, Jun 30, 2014 at 18:50
Can we restrict the question to "weapons"? That might make it easier. And can you show any google queries you did before posting? — MCW, Jun 30, 2014 at 18:52

MCW · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-13 11:18:21Z

12

Even before the WW1, The Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907) worked, that, for example, forbade to use balloons for shooting or bombing or banned some rifle/cannon calibers.
Crossbows were forbidden several time by Catholic Church or some kings. It was in Middle Ages.
Far deeper into the past, in Amphictyonic League, the cutting of water supply as a war measure was forbidden. It was about mid-7th century BC.

MCW♦

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answered Jun 30, 2014 at 15:40

Gangnus

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I'm confused by the first sub-point under crossbows. Agincourt was fought in 1415. Henry VII was born in 1457 and became king in 1485.
– Patricia Shanahan
Jun 30, 2014 at 21:39
@PatriciaShanahan: According to pages 32-33 of the cited book, the act was introduced in 1508 (during the reign of Henry VII) but the author suggests that it was motivated by the success of the longbow in earlier battles, including Agincourt. I am not sure what the number 46 signifies.
– Nate Eldredge
Jun 30, 2014 at 22:50

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