The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery

by William Gurstelle

Whether playing at defending their own castle or simply chucking pumpkins over a fence, wannabe marauders and tinkerers will become fast acquainted with Ludgar, the War Wolf, Ill Neighbor, Cabulus, and the Wild Donkey—ancient artillery devices known commonly as catapults. Building these simple yet sophisticated machines introduces fundamentals of math and physics using levers, force, torsion, tension, and traction. Instructions and diagrams illustrate how to build seven authentic working model catapults, including an early Greek ballista, a Roman onager, and the apex of catapult technology, the English trebuchet. Additional projects include learning how to lash and make rope and how to construct and use a hand sling and a staff sling. The colorful history of siege warfare is explored through the stories of Alexander the Great and his battle of Tyre; Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, and the Third Crusade; pirate-turned-soldier John Crabbe and his ship-mounted catapults; and Edward I of England and his battle against the Scots at Stirling Castle.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Technology, Engineering, Roman History

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Иван Величков · Rating 5 out of 5]

Прочитането на тази малка книжка ми отне повече от 10 месеца. Отдавна съм забелязал, че в повечето фентъзи романи се подценява силата на обсадните машини, за това реших да се самообразовам по въпроса и попаднах на това, а междувременно влязох и в един фентъзи проект, където обстановката забранява барут, а има доста корабни битки.
Книгата съдържа кратка история на стрелящите стенобойни машини, от древността до 16 век. Всяка глава започва с исторически разказ, включващ определен вид оръжие и завършва с подробни инструкции за изграждането на макет на същото.

Балисти, трибучети, катапулти и онагри, изстрелващи камъни, стрели, запалителни течности, трупове и дори отровни змии и кощери със стършели. Стрелящи както от земята, така и от кораби и крепостни стени. Материали за направата на рамките, въжетата и противотежестите.

Увлекателно четиво с голяма библиография за финал. Постоянно ме препращаше да търся исторически данни за битки, любопитни подробности и дори материали за някой от макетите. На края се оказа, че съм изчел 5-6 пъти повече от скромните 190 страници на книжката и имам викингски катапулт направен от моливи на бюрото и умален модел на трибучет в мазето (скоро го взимам и отивам на палатка да пострелям).

Препоръчвам я на всеки, който иска да пише за обсади. Чете се бързо и лесно, ако не копаеш допълнителна информация от всяко изречение и не строиш катапулти на двора. :)

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a brief history of catapults and ancient warfare, along with instructions on how to build several scale models of catapults. It describes the physics involved with catapult technology--such as mechanical advantage--and describes how ancient catapults were designed and built. This book covers most, if not all, basic catapult designs. Most of the blueprints in this book are for small-scale replicas, but a few are for larger catapults.

I thought this book was interesting. I learned a lot about catapults and ancient battles that I never knew before. The directions for building the model catapults were simple and easy to understand.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient warfare and catapults, specifically, or to anyone who likes building working models of things.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for understanding the history and getting ideas how to build ones yourself. Fun hands on engineering.

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Gurstelle, The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and more Ancient Artillery (Chicago Review Press, 2004)

What can you say about a book like this? It's step-by-step instructions to build small models of the original weapons of mass destruction. Either you're going to be horrified by it or you're going to take one look at it and say “that's the most awesome thing ever!”. You don't need a review to tell you which of those it's going to be, so I'm just going to step back, make like Janice on The Price Is Right, and let it work its magic. I will say for the record that some of these projects are probably not for beginners, all of them require adult supervision, and you can probably get arrested for using some of them in the suburbs. But then, if you're of the latter persuasion from the above, those things only add to the draw, don't they? *** 1/2

[Buck Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dorky little book that came with the dorky little catapult kit I got from Goodwill for $3. Exactly 50% of the book is gentle, Bill Nye-caliber historical recountings of ancient city sieges, complete with dates (few of them beyond the year 1100 AD) and big league name dropping like Alexander the Great or Richard the Lionhearted.

The other half of the book are do-it-yourself blueprints to build small catapults, apparently written for hobo children sleeping in a lumber yard scrap pile during the Depression.

"You won't believe how much fun (and learning!) you can have with 2x4 shavings, plastic spoons, and walnuts!"

Whee.
Still, light, fun little read.

[Ashley Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part History survey, part engineering manual, this a great book especially for younger readers (9-12) who love history, learning how to make devices to blow things up, or BOTH! Adults who have a young person in their life who likes these things will enjoy it as well (or adult who like to build things that smash other things). This book provides some very accessible history for pre-gunpowder artillery warfare.

[Chris Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could see making these with my grand children.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book in a used book sale (although it was a newer edition. One that came in a kit, but I only got the book). A very enlightening read. Highly recommend.

Gurstelle took great care to include sources (which I really appreciate). He takes you on a tour through the history of catapults, highlighting the ingenuity and craft of the engineers of the past. Not as dense as a traditional history book, but chalk full of information about siege engines, castles, and how catapult technology adapted over time.

A popular misconception is that people in the past were unintelligent and less sophisticated than they are today. For example, some people still believe the idea that the Middle Ages ("Dark Ages") was a time when most people were filthy, stupid, and saw no significant change in technology. And yet, they don't seem to wonder how stupid and uneducated people constructed castles, and designed machines to take down castles.

While humanity has made amazing achievements in modern times, people don't always realize that math, physics, and engineering are very old. They didn't know rocket science, but they knew how to hurl giant boulders over great distances with deadly accuracy. Humans have been observing their world and trying to understand it for thousands of years. This book has great examples of this. From the siege of Tyre, to the fall of Stirling Castle by Ludgar the War Wolf, and the catapult pirate ships of John Crabbe.

[Jbussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for fathers and sons. Lots of really simple heavily abridged history of catapults. Lots of fun catapult building weekend father son building/bonding time. I highly recommend this book.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know. I like it. What else is there to say about them?

[Benjamin Cauble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and still have it. The projects are great and easy to follow and build. it would be great for anybody that has an interest in history.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting dive into the history, social dynamics of war, and even some of the math and scientific principles which are related to the ‘art of the catapult.’ There are associated mini artillery projects to reinforces ideas with an authentic creative experience. Definitely for older kids. It is not easily accessible or engaging for younger students due to lack of pictures and differentiated content. Some of the projects could be attempted in class for a fun lesson on energy and intel to physics - it is just much better suited to higher grade levels.

[yalayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun little read about the history of the catapult, which must be the coolest weapon ever invented (it runs on physics, after all). It also contains plans to build large and small catapults of varying sizes. I only took off one star because I would have liked to see plans for a full-size trebuchet, even though I probably would never actually build one. (I do plan to build one of the smaller ones--haven't decided which yet.)

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm the Assistant to the Den Leader for our little band of Cub Scouts. We decided we were going to build a trebuchet with the den -- 6 young kids in garage in the winter in an hour or two. This book provided many useful plans and principles for an awful lot of fun.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable history on an ancient technology. And it had how to's to building your own!

[Matthew Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informational

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

The language was dumbed down almost to a child's level, but it did explain how all of the sorts of Medieval catapults worked, and gave directions for making a great many of them.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won't the neighbors be surprised.