| This book takes a good look at the evolving and | | | | The art of the siege was more than just ladders |
| changing world of siege warfare during the Middle | | | | and catapults. It was a whole science with an |
| Ages. But it is not a dry and scholarly look at the | | | | arsenal of weapons for attack and methods for |
| subject. It is clearly written in a normal tone and | | | | defense; and the book takes a good look at all |
| aimed at the average reader. And it comes | | | | these variations from tunnel digging to the building |
| complete with around 50 drawings and | | | | of moats and gatehouses and even diplomacy |
| photographs of sieges, castles, siege engines and | | | | and biological warfare. And it gives solid examples, |
| more. | | | | with pictures, of real castles and how they were |
| The title of the book in this review is "Medieval | | | | built and attacked. It also has many DaVinci like |
| Siege Warfare". It is written by Christoper | | | | drawings of siege weapons and tactics. |
| Gravett and the color plates were drawn by | | | | Some of the best parts of the book are the |
| Richard and Christa Hook. | | | | references to real sieges of real castles |
| Siege warfare is a fascinating topic because during | | | | throughout history. It gives you short looks at |
| the Middle Ages a real arms race was going on. It | | | | how the sieges occurred and what happened. |
| was the race between castle builders, weapon | | | | Some of the famous sieges covered are the first |
| builders, and siege engineers. Technology and | | | | siege of Le Puiset in 1111, the sea-borne attack on |
| engineering changed dramatically during medieval | | | | Acre in 1189, and the siege of Chateau Gaillard in |
| times and castles had to change and adapt in | | | | 1203. |
| order to cope with this growth and keep their | | | | This book is written for an audience of teens to |
| inhabitants safe. Both siege engineers and castle | | | | adults and if you are looking for a good |
| builders used many ingenious means and devices | | | | introductory book about the whole subject of the |
| to achieve their goals. This book takes a good | | | | sieging of castles during the Middle Ages this is the |
| look at these tactics and techniques and how | | | | perfect choice. It is not too scholarly, has lots of |
| they changed and evolved over a several | | | | pictures and illustrations, and takes a complete |
| hundred year period. | | | | look at the whole subject area. |