As an interesting side note, weapons did not develop in a vacuum.
Two handed swords did not become popular until the advent of full body plate. At that point you didn't need a shield, your entire body was a shield.
It was far better to just have a better and more powerful weapon. Ironically in many fantasy games, the trope is Plate plus shield, but in reality that wasn't all that common.
Generally only more lightly armored people used a shield, skirmishers and ranged troops and such. Since they are cheap, and you can drop it if you have to run.
Two handed swords did not become popular until the advent of full body plate. At that point you didn't need a shield, your entire body was a shield.
It was far better to just have a better and more powerful weapon. Ironically in many fantasy games, the trope is Plate plus shield, but in reality that wasn't all that common.
Generally only more lightly armored people used a shield, skirmishers and ranged troops and such. Since they are cheap, and you can drop it if you have to run.