Play Catapult

Dionysius the Elder invented the basic catapult in 399 B.C. Some catapults were able to throw stones weighing as much as 350 pounds. The amount of force with which these stones were launched made catapults primary weapons of war even into medieval times.

Variations

Two variations of the catapult design were created from the original machine. The single-armed catapult was designed for throwing large objects, such as rocks, into the air. The two-armed design, known as the ballista, was used to shoot large arrows. The Romans added wheels to both designs so that the siege engines would have more maneuverability.

Invention of the Cannon

The cannon is one of the first forms of artillery that used gunpowder. Early cannons were not particularly safe, and could only be fired a limited number of times per day. The earliest use of a cannon is not known; however, the Scots defended Stirling Castle in 1341 with at least one cannon, and three were used in the battle of Crcy-en-Ponthieu in 1346. Between 1350 and 1400, use of cannons as weapons became more widespread.

Early Cannons

When cannon use first began spreading, 600-pound machines were considered "large guns." Although pieces weighing as much as 1,000 pounds, and one as heavy as 9,500, existed before 1400, these were so immobile that they were generally considered useless. As a result, heavy cannons stayed in the 700-pound range, with some as light as 43 pounds.

Similar Artillery

The cannon's use of gunpowder as a projectile method is what separated it from earlier siege weapons. Three variations on the cannon were developed and commonly used as artillery. Mortars were short-barreled machines that had little range, but were often used for hurling bombs over obstacles such as walls. Bombards were very heavy pieces that had moderate range and were used for battering walls down. Culverins were light and fit small to medium-sized cannon balls that could be hurled over large distances.
Although armies experimented with other types of weapons, the development of these was often expensive and more dangerous than more traditional firearms, which prevent their widespread use.

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