crossbow

(noun)

A mechanised weapon, based on the bow and arrow, that fires bolts; it was invented during the Warring States period of the Zhou Dynasty, when its low cost and ease of use made it a preferable weapon to the chariot.

Examples of crossbow in the following topics:

  • The Fall of the Han and the Three Kingdoms Period

    • Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang invented the wooden ox, suggested to be an early form of the wheelbarrow, and improved on the repeating crossbow.

  • The Eastern Zhou Period

    • While the chariot remained in use, there was a shift during the period to infantry, possibly because of the invention of the crossbow.

  • The Warring States Period

    • The crossbow was invented, and its low cost and easy use (as compared to the expensive chariot) resulted in the increased conscription of peasants as expandable infantry.