chinese crossbow

fenlander · 25th October 2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausjulius

seems to be a good date, the romans had thema slo,
and from what i recall the sythians were the frist people known to use them and they used them as childrens toys...

Yes i just checked further, they used crossbows a little earlier than the Romans.
Do you know which poisons they used on their arrows (or should I say bolts) ?
I was told the crossbow was banned in the renaissance by the church. Does anyone know why ? Not that it was any great loss with the English long bow being far more effective.

v

Philip · 25th October 2006, 08:52 PM

For chemical warfare, you'll find mention in the volumes dealing with chemistry in the late Joseph Needham's monumental series SCIENCE AND CIVILIZATION IN CHINA, published over several decades by Cambridge University. Needham was painstakingly thorough, his volume on gunpowder (Vol. V, section 7) contains formulae and comparative studies with Western forms of this explosive, along with the weapons using it.

For incendiary and aquatic ordnance, see Ralph D. Sawyer, FIRE AND WATER: THE ART OF INCENDIARY AND AQUATIC WARFARE IN CHINA, Boulder (CO): Westview Books, 2004. There is brief coverage of poisons in there.

Folks, please don't try this stuff at home!!!

25th October 2006, 08:52 PM	#2
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	references on chemical and explosive ordnance For chemical warfare, you'll find mention in the volumes dealing with chemistry in the late Joseph Needham's monumental series SCIENCE AND CIVILIZATION IN CHINA, published over several decades by Cambridge University. Needham was painstakingly thorough, his volume on gunpowder (Vol. V, section 7) contains formulae and comparative studies with Western forms of this explosive, along with the weapons using it. For incendiary and aquatic ordnance, see Ralph D. Sawyer, FIRE AND WATER: THE ART OF INCENDIARY AND AQUATIC WARFARE IN CHINA, Boulder (CO): Westview Books, 2004. There is brief coverage of poisons in there. Folks, please don't try this stuff at home!!!