| A crossbow is a bow that shoots bolts. It is | | | | to long bows until they effectively replaced them |
| mounted on a stock with a mechanism to hold | | | | by the twelfth century. They had distinct |
| the bow in place when it is drawn, until the shot is | | | | advantages over longbows, most notably in a |
| released when the trigger is pulled. Crossbows | | | | much shorter training period. A crossbow can be |
| have been used since about 400 BC and have | | | | mastered in as little as one week while a longbow |
| been used extensively in Asia, North Africa and | | | | takes years of practise to use effectively. Battle |
| Europe in warfare. | | | | formations often consisted of archers, javelin |
| Early Use of the Crossbow | | | | throwers and crossbowmen as a central |
| Evidence suggests that the first crossbows were | | | | component protecting the infantry, and |
| made towards the end of the fourth century BC | | | | crossbows were often used in pre-battle |
| in China and surrounding areas. They appear to | | | | skirmishes and sneak attacks. Knights in armour |
| have been first used as toys or for untended | | | | had little defences against an attack by |
| traps. Crossbows are mentioned in the famous | | | | crossbowmen and pikemen and with the invention |
| document by Sun Tzu, The Art of War, written | | | | of better drawing mechanisms, crossbows could |
| sometime between 500 and 300 BC and a fourth | | | | also be used while on horseback. |
| century BC document, also from China, has | | | | With the invention of gunpowder weapons |
| references to a giant catapult. The tomb of the | | | | crossbow use started to decline, although in the |
| emperor Qin Shi Huang, famous for the | | | | early years gunpowder weapons were less |
| Terracotta Army, contains crossbow remains. | | | | effective than crossbows as they were slow to |
| In Greece the crossbow appeared around the | | | | reload and less accurate. |
| fifth century and was known as a gastraphetes. | | | | In Other Places |
| The Greek besiegers to the city of Tyre in 332 | | | | In Asia crossbows were used as siege weapons |
| BC used crossbows and they were also used in | | | | and the Saracens used composite crossbows in |
| the year 397 BC at the siege of Motya. The | | | | their was against the Crusaders. Saracen bows |
| gastraphetes is believed to have been invented | | | | were made from composite materials, usually |
| around the year 400 BC and consisted of a | | | | layers of wood, sinew and horn that were glued |
| composite bow which was cocked by pressing | | | | and held together with animal tendons. Muslim |
| down on the stock which was rested on the | | | | armies in Spain used crossbows and throughout |
| stomach. Heron of Alexandria described the | | | | Africa they were used for hunting and by scouts. |
| gastraphetes in the famous work the Belopoeica. | | | | The technology crossed the Atlantic to North |
| Composite bows comprised of a trigger and | | | | America with the slave trade and light crossbows |
| stock, operated on a stand and known as | | | | were used by the Inuit for hunting. |
| oxybeles, were developed from the gastraphetes, | | | | Today |
| and further development led to the much larger | | | | Crossbows today are mainly used for target |
| ballista. | | | | practice although they are still used in some parts |
| Europe | | | | of Asia, Africa and North America for hunting. |
| Crossbows were used by the roman armies and | | | | They are even used by some military forces, for |
| figured in the Battle of Hastings in Great Britain in | | | | example the Marine Commando Force of the |
| 1066. They were increasingly used in preference | | | | Indian Navy, as a quieter weapon than a handgun. |