Post-Roman Era European Swords.
Immediately after the fall of the Roman Empire, sword design remain fairly unchanged. Swords from the Germanic Iron Age and Viking era following the fall of the Roman empire were distinct in style, but still very similar to the Spatha. These examples of typical "Viking" swords are similar to what would have been common throughout most of Northern Europe.
Later Medieval Swords
Replica of One Handed Sword With Crossguard
Later, around 1100 AD, one handed swords began to see larger cross guards during the Norman expansion. As armor technology advanced, sword design also changed. Soon, powerful hand and a half swords and two handed longswords were popular as weapon smiths sought ways to defeat armor.
The Rennaisance and Later.
With advances in gunpowder, armor began to become less prevalent, as did melee combat. In the field and at sea, soldiers and sailors (many heading to the new world) were no longer wearing heavy armor, and were now carrying muskets. Since a heavy blade made for hacking and thrusting through armor was no longer needed, soldiers and gentleman began to favor smaller swords. As a result, several new types of blade were born.
Since gentlemen only carried a blade for fashion or dueling, various types of smallswords, like the ones pictured here, became popular.
Sailors and soldiers needed short swords that were compact enough be carried along with a musket or be practical for use at sea, but strong enough work well in combat. Stout blades like this 19th century naval cutlass were the result.
Deadly, but increasingly obsolete, cavalry swords like this 1908 British cavalry sword were used into the early 20th century.