Bow : History & Effects

Bow was first invented and used by ancient hunters nearly eighteen thousand years ago (First remnant discovered in Europe). It was a simple weapon, usually made of wood and rope (Used as string) to throw projectiles (Arrow) but a deadly one. With bow a hunter could reach its prey from a long distant. Before the invention of bow, the primary weapon of hunting was spear. Spear was also an effective weapon but it had one problem. Hunter must reach the prey to strike with spear. But when bow invented the whole hunting scenario changed. Hunting became more easy for the hunters and food supply increased. It was its first effect on shaping history.

Archers

Origin : In the prehistoric time hunting was the main source of food supply for humans to survive. In later stages humans learned agriculture and the pressure from hunting shifted to cultivation of land. The pressure may shifted but bow was still in use as the primary weapon of hunting. Humans learned another utility of bow and it became a important weapon of war.  They slowly started mastering the skill with bow (Archery). The archery became skill based and a fine archer could exploit and turn the tide of battle.

Cave Painting

Types and specialization  : As the importance of the bow grew in time, new varieties were invented. A simple bow still existed but new complex and powerful versions were also available. Some of these types are as follows :

Composite Bow : Originated in Asia around 2000 BC. This bow was a complex version. It was not made of a single wood like the simple bows were. Horn, wood and sinew were pasted or laminated together to make it. The specialty of this bow was its power and range. A same sized composite bow had twice the power than a simple bow. Many ancient Asian civilizations like Assyrians, Persians, Indians, Chinese, Koreans used it as their primary elite weapon. In medieval period it was the main weapon of Mongol Horse Archers and played a crucial role in Mongol Conquest.

Mongolian Horse Archers

English Longbow : It was mainly developed in British Isles. It was long (6 Feet or 1.8 M) and made of yew wood (Sometimes ash and elm were also used). The specialty of this bow was its range and power. Combined with the bodkin arrows it was a super weapon. We can see its effect in "Hundred Years War" between England and France, specially in "Battle of Agincourt" in 1415. Where Henry the V's long bowmen turned the tide of battle against well armored heavy French knights.

English Longbow 

Crossbow : It was mainly used in Europe. It didn't have the range like longbow and composite bow but in close range it was deadliest. Even heavy metal armors were ineffective against it in short range. Many renowned persons died by it like Richard the Lion heart of England. One time the knights of Europe petitioned to the pope for banning cross bow. That was the deadly reputation it had. Though it was never banned.

Genoese Crossbow  

Chu Ko Nu or Repeating crossbow : This was Chinese invention. It was like semi automatic bow. A bunch of bolts (Usually 10) were loaded in the weapon. It could fire much faster than normal cross bow. Though the power and range was not so great of this bows but the effect was fearsome with continuous firing.

Repeating Crossbow

Ballista : This was mainly used by Romans in siege warfare. It was mechanized and larger version of the cross bow. It was one of the key siege weapons of ancient and medieval era (Before the invention of canon).

Roman Ballista

Effects in history : Invention of bow shaped the human history in many ways. The eastern civilizations used it widely in battle and developed it with new versions and varieties. Whereas western civilizations like Greeks didn't use it much in battle until the time of Alexander the great. He first saw it's potential and used it in his Asian campaign. Cretan Archers were used as elite light infantry in his army. After invention of cross bow it was widely used in western civilizations because of its deadly effect. After the invention of gun powder and better firearms it slowly became obsolete but never disappeared. We still see many tribes in South America, Asia and Africa use it as their primary weapon of hunting. In modern times it is mainly used in sports. Some of the well known heroes from mythology like Rama (Hero of Hindu epic Ramayana), Arjuna (Hero of Hindu epic Mahabharata), Paris (Prince of Troy from Greek epic Iliad) were fine archers and used bow as their primary weapon. So bow had its effect from the ancient time and shaped and altered the history many ways.