The Machete is a descendant of both Spanish and West African blades. Where the Spanish contribution comes from the frontier espada ancha (broadsword) and guard-less sabers and cutlasses, the African derived machete represents an African design as manufactured by Criollos and Europeans. The kingdoms of West Africa relied upon fierce warriors to defend and expand their realms. It was this prowess, and the slave economy, which powered their polities. This warrior culture was brought to the Caribbean by African slaves. Maroons, free men and slaves cultivated the fighting skills of West Africa and combined with European influence, grew to be exceptional in their stick and machete fencing. In the street violence of Latin America, in her many of the revolutions, and in the Spanish American War of 1898, macheteros sowed fear into their enemies and hacked their way to victory.