LORE: BALLISTA
In the 16th Century the Ballista was referred
to as an “ancient war engine”. An oversized
Crossbow built to a cart that shot bolts that
were sometimes the size of spears - it was
believed to have been invented by the early
Greeks (400 B.C.) and was later improved
on by the Romans. Through the Middle
Ages, the Ballista was used extensively by
the French - wasn’t used by the English until the 1200’s. It was an important nautical
weapon until being replaced by the Cannon.
LORE: CROSSBOW
The Crossbow began
in Ancient China
around 600 B.C. The Greeks
and Romans were known to use
such a weapon, but in the year 1066, William
the Conqueror introduced the Medieval Crossbow to England.
The Crossbow can propel a bolt up to 400
yards with deadly accuracy, and it can manage
about 2 shots per minute.
In the year 1139, by direction of Pope Innocent II, any use of Crossbows against Christians was banned.
Crossbows would be replaced by Firearms as
Guns began to improve in the 1600’s.
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LORE: LEONARDO DA VINCI
This drawing is Leonardo da Vinci’s own
design of a ‘Giant Crossbow’ that he
sketched back in the late 1480’s.