The Composite Bow

Osprey Weapons #43

by Mike Loades, Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

An ancient design, emerging from Central Asia in the second millennium BC, the composite bow was adopted by a staggering variety of cultures, from nomadic tribal peoples such as the Huns, Turks and Mongols, to mighty empires such as the Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs and Chinese. Offering high power and portability, the composite bow was an ideal cavalry weapon, though it was also used by infantry in open battle and as a siege weapon. In this important study, an expert on Eastern military technology tells the story of this extraordinary piece of military hardware; how it was made and how various cultures developed differing tactics for using it. He explains why the composite bow achieved such stunning successes and how it endured as a weapon of choice for thousands of years.

Genres: History, Medieval, Nonfiction, Ancient

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2015

Reviews

[Станислав · Rating 4 out of 5]

Написал известный военный реконструктор не сказать историк. Оружие которое создавало империи и уничтожали их. Во общем примерно с пятисотого по тысяча пятисот год композитный лук был главным оружием военного производства в Евразии. Довольно интересные технические аспекты. Недостаточно освящён вопрос о разных типах луков истории и их особенностях.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book with the weapons series under Osprey, even though I have been an Osprey fan since 2004. I found it very helpful and informative about the mechanics of composite bow construction and operation.

[William Paley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of a number of bows from differing ethnic groups.