Ancient history

How did the medieval catapult look like?

The medieval catapult was a powerful siege weapon used to launch large projectiles at enemy fortifications and troops. It consisted of a large frame or structure, usually made of wood or metal, with a long arm that could be rotated. The arm was pulled back by a team of men or animals, and then released to launch the projectile.

There were several different types of catapults used in the Middle Ages, including:

* The traction trebuchet: This was the most common type of catapult, and it was powered by a team of men pulling on ropes attached to the arm.

* The counterweight trebuchet: This type of catapult used a counterweight to launch the projectile, instead of human power. Counterweight trebuchets were more powerful than traction trebuchets, but they were also more complex and expensive to build.

* The springald: This was a smaller type of catapult that was used to launch arrows or bolts. Springalds were often mounted on siege towers or ships.

Catapults were an important part of medieval warfare, and they played a key role in many sieges and battles. They were eventually replaced by gunpowder artillery in the late Middle Ages, but they remained in use for some time as siege weapons.