The Art of the Catapult: How to Build Ballistae, Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery

With some scrap wood, rope, hammer, nails, and this book, build seven historic working catapults, simple yet sophisticated hurling machines that rely on the fundamentals of math and physics using levers, force, torsion, tension, and traction. The colorful history of siege warfare is explored not just through these exciting projects, but also through the stories of Alexander the Great at the 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. Whether you are a budding backyard warrior or engineering wizard, this book is a must-have.