Historic weapons facts

Ballista resembles a large crossbow, but it relies on different mechanics. Ballista uses two levers with torsion springs made of twisted skeins instead of a prod (the bow part of a modern crossbow).

Trebuchet. The counterweight trebuchet appeared in both Christian and Muslim lands around the Mediterranean in the 12th century. It could fling projectiles weighing up to 350 pounds (160 kg). The trebuchet's technical constructions were lost at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1984, the French engineer Renaud Beffeyte made the first modern reconstruction of a trebuchet, based on documents from 1324.

Crossbow. A bow required a considerable degree of lifetime training, physical strength and expertise to operate with any degree of efficiency. In contrast, the crossbow was the first projectile weapon to be simple, cheap and physically-undemanding enough to be operated by large numbers of conscript soldiers.

Archers and crossbowmen. A pavise was too heavy to be used in direct combat. It was primarily used as a shelter by archers and crossbowmen, particularly during sieges. It was often deployed in the ground with a spike attached to the bottom. The name "pavise" comes from the city of Pavia in Italy.