the earliest evidence for specifics of martial arts as practiced in the past comes from depictions of fights, both in figurative art and in early literature, besides analysis of archaeological evidence, especially of weaponry. the oldest work of art depicting scenes of battle, dating back 3400 bc, was the ancient egyptian paintings showing some form of struggle. dating back to 3000 bc in mesopotamia (babylon), reliefs and the poems depicting struggle were found. in vietnam, drawings and sketches from 2879 bce describe certain ways of combat using sword, stick, bow, and spears.