in ancient china, yellow emperor (2698 bc) is described as a famous general who, before becoming china’s leader, wrote lengthy treatises on medicine, astrology and the martial arts. literary descriptions of combat began in the 2nd millennium bc, with mention of weaponry and combat in texts like the gilgamesh epic or the rig-veda. detailed description of late bronze age to early iron age hand-to-hand combat with spear, sword and shield are found in the "iliad" (c. 8th century bc) and also the "mahabharatha".