Weapons & Devices

Find out more about some of the technology the Surviving History team investigates in the show!

Chinese Fire Arrows

A fearsome weapon that emerged from ancient China was the rocket-propelled fire arrow, developed during the 10th century. In its most primitive version, the device used gunpowder to launch multiple fire-tipped arrows, usually made of bamboo, at advancing enemies. Though the degree of accuracy and destructive power of these arrows is unclear, they no doubt made a significant psychological impact on the enemy.

One documented use of these arrows was in China's battles against the Mongols in the first half of the 13th century. The Mongols later developed fire arrows of their own and probably spread their use into Europe over the next two centuries. Later Chinese improvements on the rocket-propelled fire arrows included a dragon-shaped missile powered by four booster rockets that would ignite as the missile neared its target, sending off a swarm of smaller rockets from the dragon's "mouth." 

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Repeating Crossbow

The idea behind the crossbow was simple: a bow was mounted at right angles across a stock that had an indentation to hold the arrow, or bolt, in place and some kind of mechanical trigger attached to the bow's string so that the arrow could be released at will. Versions of the crossbow were used in ancient Greece and Rome and continued to be essential on the battlefields of Europe, especially during the Middle Ages. The development of the crossbow in China, however, took a different path than in some of these regions, as the Chinese focused on improving the crossbow's rapidity of fire, as opposed to its power. The result of this focus was the repeating crossbow, considered the world's first semi-automatic weapon.

The earliest written references to repeating crossbows in China date back to around 220 B.C., during China's Han Dynasty. The genius of the weapon was that it could be easily fired and reloaded and fired again, all by moving a single lever forward and backward. In addition, the repeating crossbow weighed in at only 10 pounds, making it easy to carry and operate. By the 16th century, Chinese weapons makers could manufacture crossbows that held up to 10 bolts at a time; an experienced soldier could fire these 10 bolts in less than 15 seconds. By modern standards, these were not powerful weapons, but they made a strong impression on the battlefields of China up into the 19th century.

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Spear-thrower (Atlatl)

The spear-thrower (also known by its Aztec name, the atlatl) was constructed from a simple rod, stick or narrow board with a groove on its upper surface and a hook or thong attached to the end of it. The fighter would lay the spear or dart into the groove and fasten it at the end to hold the blade in place until he was ready to fire it. At that time, the fighter used his entire body to propel the spear or dart into the air towards his target, with the spear-thrower functioning like an extra joint in the fighter's arm that allowed him to launch the blade with greater speed and force.

Variously fashioned of wood, bamboo, bone or antler, spear-throwers were used all over the world beginning in prehistoric times. In addition to the Mayans and Aztecs of pre-Columbian Latin America, similar weapons were also used in Australia, in North America (by Eskimos and Native American tribes), Africa, and ancient Greece and Rome. In addition to warfare, the weapons functioned efficiently as hunting devices, enabling their users to kill animals much larger than themselves. In Europe, the spear-thrower was replaced by the bow and arrow, which could reach targets from even greater distances.

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Scorpio

Invented around 50 B.C. in ancient Greece, the Scorpio (its name in Latin means "dart-thrower") was a kind of combination between a crossbow and a catapult. Tightly wound ropes were attached to a bow-like structure made of wood, with the bow arms curved to increase the tension in the ropes and allow the weapon to fire from a greater distance. When released, the Scorpio launched a long steel bolt at its target.

While it was invented by the Greeks, the Scorpio was most widely used by the armies of the Roman Empire, including those of Julius Caesar. It was a relatively small-scale weapon, and could be operated by one man. In Roman times, a battery of Scorpios was usually gathered together to fire at enemy soldiers from a raised position, enabling the bolts to penetrate enemy shields and weaken them as they advanced. Later developments of this weapon included the Cheiroballistra, which dated to around 100 A.D. and was sturdier, more powerful and more accurate than the Scorpio. Today's much-improved version of the Scorpio would be the precision-guided munitions known as smart bombs, which allow their users to more accurately locate targets on the ground while minimizing damage to surrounding areas.

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Battering Ram

Used in some form for more than 4,000 years, the battering ram is one of the most common ancient and medieval weapons. It was vital in siege warfare, when fighters wanted to gain entrance to a castle or city and needed to penetrate the city gates. A battering ram generally consisted of a large log or beam that was suspended with chains from the top of a movable shed. The shed was wheeled forward slowly towards the target; this slow forward motion earned the battering ram its nickname, the tortoise. The ram's operators would then swing the log or beam against the gates or walls of the city or castle, sheltering themselves from stones, flaming arrows or other attacks under the shed, which was often lined with animal skins for extra protection.

Versions of the battering ram were used by Alexander the Great and the Vikings, as well during the Crusades. The Romans called the device "Aries," for the astrological sign of the ram. Later modifications of the battering ram added metal heads or even spikes to the end of the beam. The success of the ram as a siege weapon caused significant modifications to the construction of castles, including the addition of such obstacles as moats and drawbridges to prevent battering rams from reaching the innermost castle walls. Beginning in the 1400s, after the development of gunpowder and the siege cannon, the battering ram faded from use.

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Morning Star

One of the most instantly recognizable of medieval weapons is the morning star, which was basically a spiked metal ball that either hung from a chain on the end of a long stick or was attached directly to the stick's end. The morning star, named for its crown of sharp metal spikes that formed a star shape, was also known as the "holy water sprinkler" for its similarity to an instrument used in the Catholic mass. Flemish fighters used a version of the morning star dubbed Goedendag, which is Dutch for "Good Day." 

The morning star was a militaristic variation on the flail, a tool used to separate grain, and also closely resembled the mace, another well known medieval weapon. Employed by both peasants and knights, infantry and cavalry, the morning star appeared on the battlefields of Europe up through the 17th century. Particularly ornate versions of the morning star were also used by kings and other royals for ceremonial purposes.

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