{"product_id":"9781472824608-the-crossbow","title":"The Crossbow","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor centuries, the crossbow was a key weapon on the world's battlefields from Europe to China. Historical weapons expert Mike Loades a\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003essesses its origins, development, combat record and lasting influence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTechnologically sophisticated and powerful, the crossbow has long enjoyed a popular reputation for villainous superiority because it could be used with little training as a weapon of assassination.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKnown to the Ancient Greeks and the Chinese as early as the 5th century BC, the crossbow developed both in Western Europe and in the Far East. Advances in trigger mechanisms, spanning and bow design allowed the development of ever more powerful bows. It was an extremely useful weapon, and especially effective in siege warfare for both attack and defence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this study acknowledged weaponry expert Mike Loades traces the origins, development, combat record and lasting legacy of the crossbow, the formidable projectile weapon that played a key role in a host of battles and sieges across Europe and Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40944681746529,"sku":"9781472824608","price":12.8,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_27367388.jpg?v=1721724399","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781472824608-the-crossbow","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}