The Scimitar
A beautifully curved Persian scimitar.
The scimitar, or shamshir, is a wide blanket term for many varieties of a curved, single edged, middle eastern longsword. Its roots trace right back to bronze age sickle swords, but the centuries developed it into an ornate and deadly cavalry sword that has become a cultural icon of the middle east.
Talwars, like these four from India, follow the same basic shape as the scimitar, but are generally smaller and lighter.
Sabres
Many military sabres trace their roots to the middle east
Sabres, like this 19th century US Calvary sabre, trace their roots to the middle east (you can see the resemblance to Talwar style scimitars). Unlike the cavalry sword featured in our European section, the sabre was designed to slash from horseback rather than thrust and cut. Underneath is an example of a more traditional style sabre.