Crossbow History and Now
In history, it is not known for certain when the first crossbow appeared. It is speculated that the Chinese made the first device before the 6th century BC. It is also known for certain that they lived during the Warring States Period in the 4th century BC. were used. The crossbow was also such a popular weapon in Medieval times that it almost replaced the normal bow and arrow. Longbows could shoot just as accurately as crossbows and even faster. Soldiers could shoot crossbows with less training and become equally proficient in less time. Later, crossbows were called arbalests. They had a steel bow and could shoot farther and with greater penetration than longbows, but were more expensive to manufacture and slower to reload.
In the armies of Europe, crossbowmen occupied a central position in the battle formations. They attacked the enemy from an attack by mounted knights and protected their infantry. They were so highly regarded that they were paid more than other foot soldiers and, in some armies, were given status equivalent to knighthood. New pulling mechanisms such as pushers and ratchets made it possible to use crossbows on horseback. Later crossbows fell out of favor in the 16th century when firearms appeared on the battlefield. Today, crossbows are used for sport shooting and hunting. In some places they are also used for military purposes. It is used by some military, tribal forces and even police in China. In military operations, they are used for ambush and sniper operations, as well as as a method of establishing ziplines in difficult terrain.