The History of the Catapult
The Trebuchet
The oldest of the catapults, it was given the name "ingenium" in England after its large use in the French and Britishn wars. Unlike other catapults, a counter weight was used to launch the projectile. There are two types of the trebuchet: Traction trebuchets, which were powered by people, and Counterpoise trebuchets, which used a counter weight.
The oldest of the catapults, it was given the name "ingenium" in England after its large use in the French and Britishn wars. Unlike other catapults, a counter weight was used to launch the projectile. There are two types of the trebuchet: Traction trebuchets, which were powered by people, and Counterpoise trebuchets, which used a counter weight.
Pros and Cons
PROS - Able to throw heavier stones, Powerful
CONS - Difficult to move around, Complicated design, Slow operation
Similarities and Differences
Similarities - Launch projectiles into the air
Differences - Uses a counter weight instead of a rope or string
PROS - Able to throw heavier stones, Powerful
CONS - Difficult to move around, Complicated design, Slow operation
Similarities and Differences
Similarities - Launch projectiles into the air
Differences - Uses a counter weight instead of a rope or string
The Ballista
Coming from the Greek word "Ballistes" meaning throw, the ballista is basically a giant crossbow. The ballista was created by the Greeks, and was later modified by the Romans. A rope was used to pull back the arm of the catapult, and upon letting go, would fire arrows or darts onto the enemy with extreme accuracy. This catapult did not have the power of the trebuchet or mangonel. A smaller version, the springald was created for tighter confines.
Coming from the Greek word "Ballistes" meaning throw, the ballista is basically a giant crossbow. The ballista was created by the Greeks, and was later modified by the Romans. A rope was used to pull back the arm of the catapult, and upon letting go, would fire arrows or darts onto the enemy with extreme accuracy. This catapult did not have the power of the trebuchet or mangonel. A smaller version, the springald was created for tighter confines.
Pros and Cons
PROS - Easily portable, Needed less people to manage
CONS - Made specifically for arrows and darts, Didn't cover as much distance
Similarities and Differences
Similarities - Uses tension from a rope to fire a projectile, similar to the mangonel
Differences - Fires arrows and darts instead of rocks and other ammo
PROS - Easily portable, Needed less people to manage
CONS - Made specifically for arrows and darts, Didn't cover as much distance
Similarities and Differences
Similarities - Uses tension from a rope to fire a projectile, similar to the mangonel
Differences - Fires arrows and darts instead of rocks and other ammo
The Mangonel
Coming from the Latin word "manganon" meaning engine of war, the mangonel was invented in 400 BC by the Romans. Using a rope to pull down the long wooden arm with a bucket or sling, the bucket would be loaded. When the arm is released, the arm would move back into its natural position until it came into contact with a wooden beam, and launch the ammunition. A type of mangonel is the onager, meaning wild ass from the Latin word " onagros".
Coming from the Latin word "manganon" meaning engine of war, the mangonel was invented in 400 BC by the Romans. Using a rope to pull down the long wooden arm with a bucket or sling, the bucket would be loaded. When the arm is released, the arm would move back into its natural position until it came into contact with a wooden beam, and launch the ammunition. A type of mangonel is the onager, meaning wild ass from the Latin word " onagros".
Pros and Cons
PROS - Easy to assemble, Easy to move in battles
CONS - Low range, Less accurate
Similarities and Differences
Similarities - Similar to the ballista, a projectile was fired using the tension from a rope
Differences - Had a wooden bar to stop the arm of the catapult
PROS - Easy to assemble, Easy to move in battles
CONS - Low range, Less accurate
Similarities and Differences
Similarities - Similar to the ballista, a projectile was fired using the tension from a rope
Differences - Had a wooden bar to stop the arm of the catapult
Citations
Trebuchet Information:
"History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults." History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. <https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of- catapults>.
Trebuchet Image:
"Trebuchet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 June 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebuchet>.
Ballista Information:
"History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults." History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. <https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of- catapults>.
Ballista Image:
"What Is a Ballista?" What Is a Ballista? N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. <http://users.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/ballista/defn.html>.
Mangonel Information:
"History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults." History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. <https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of- catapults>.
Mangonel Image:
"Mangonel." Mangonel. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. <http://lams.slcusd.org/pages/teachers/coward/2k4/fifth/krisweb/mangon el.htm>.
Trebuchet Information:
"History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults." History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. <https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of- catapults>.
Trebuchet Image:
"Trebuchet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 June 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebuchet>.
Ballista Information:
"History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults." History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. <https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of- catapults>.
Ballista Image:
"What Is a Ballista?" What Is a Ballista? N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. <http://users.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/ballista/defn.html>.
Mangonel Information:
"History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults." History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. <https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of- catapults>.
Mangonel Image:
"Mangonel." Mangonel. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. <http://lams.slcusd.org/pages/teachers/coward/2k4/fifth/krisweb/mangon el.htm>.