Crossbows played a significant role in the warfare of Medieval Europe and East Asia.
The first crossbows were invented in ancient China and cause a major shift in projectile weaponry’s role. Unlike the bow, which required considerable training, physical strength, and expertise, the crossbow was simple to use, cheap to make, and physically undemanding. It was the perfect weapon for large numbers of untrained conscript soldiers.
A small body of evidence points out that the ancient European crossbow was primarily a hunting tool or minor siege weapon. The earliest European crossbow designs featured a transverse slot in the top surface of the frame. A vertical rod thrust up through a hole in the bottom of the notch forced the string out. A later design implemented a rolling cylindrical pawl called a nut held in place by wood, ivory, or metal to retain the string.
Crossbows were used at the battle of Hastings in 1066, and by the 12th century, they had become a common battlefield weapon. By the 13th century, European crossbows used winches and various spanning mechanisms such as winch pulleys, cord pulleys, gaffles, cranequins, and screws.