Learn About The History of the Catapult

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Learn About The History of the Catapult

Posted by Setiadi Wednesday, March 6, 2013 0 comments

A catapult is a machine used to propel objects, most commonly associated with medieval warfare and its use as a siege weapon. The word catapult originates from the Greek words "kata," meaning downward and "pultos," a circular battle shield.

According to National Geographic News, the exact origin of the catapult is unknown; however, early records suggest that the device may have originated in the Middle East or China.

Catapults were used by the Chinese, Greeks and Romans before becoming a prominent element in European medieval warfare. Medieval castles were heavily fortified and often surrounded by stone "curtain" walls up to twenty feet thick. Catapults could bombard these walls with very large, heavy rocks; sections of a castle's wall could crumble under continuous attack, leaving the castle vulnerable to invasion.

There are many types of catapults. The most well-known are the ballista, the mangonel and the trebuchet. The trebuchet is the oldest form of catapult, while the ballista is the most accurate.

In the 14th century, the Mongol army besieging the Crimean city of Caffa reportedly catapulted soldiers who had died of the Black Deatha form of plagueinto the city. In an article that appeared in the CDC publication "Emerging Infectious Diseases" in 2002, author Mark Wheelis calls this "...the most spectacular incident of biological warfare ever." According to the contemporary narrative of Gabriele de' Mussi of Genoa, Caffa's residents attempted to dispose of the "rotting corpses" by dumping them in the sea, which poisoned the water supply and further spread the plague.

According to Middle-Ages.org, medieval armies also catapulted dung, flaming objects, body parts, dead animals and rotting garbage in addition to large stones at their enemies.

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