Medieval Siege Weapons

The Medieval era was a period of huge variety and invention in siege warfare. Before the use of cannon and other gun-powder artillery, siege engines relied on assorted sources of power, from torsion 'energy storage' systems to man-power, counter-balances and others. This book reveals how technological traditions from the Graeco-Roman world, Persia, India and above all China made a massive contribution to siege warfare techniques. It also covers developments in military engineering, such as mining, counter-mining, the breaking of walls, the use of noxious and chemical fumes and the use of fire-weapons.

List of contents

Introduction · The Background · Throwing Machines · Dropping Devices And Incendiary Weapons · Bibliography · Colour Plate Commentary · Index

About the author

David Nicolle is Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Medieval Studies, Nottingham University. He is the author of numerous books on aspects of medieval military history, including many for Osprey.Sam Thompson was born in 1978. He read English at Trinity College, Dublin, and is now a tutor at St Anne's College, Oxford. He also writes for the Times Literary Supplement, the London Review of Books and the Guardian. He lives in Oxford with his wife and two sons.

Summary

In terms of the development of siege warfare, the mediaeval world was probably the most inventive in history. This text explores a range of devices and details the changes in siege warfare brought about by the mixing of traditions from Greece, Rome, Persia, India and China.

Product details

• Authors: David Nicolle
• Assisted by: Gerry Embleton (Illustration), Sam Thompson (Illustration)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2002
• No. of pages: 48
• Dimensions: 129 mm x 247 mm x 4 mm
• Weight: 177 g
• Illustrations: 8 colour & 40 b&w illustrations
• Series: New Vanguard; New Vanguard
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political administration