Crossbow
A powerful mechanical bow that shoots bolts with great force, requiring less training than a longbow and capable of penetrating most armor of its time.
Core metadata
- ID: crossbow
- Era: Medieval
- First known date: 1139 (exact)
- Region: Medieval Europe / Lateran Council military context
- Review status: source_checked
- Maturity: N/A
Prerequisites
- Advanced Metallurgy (Medieval) (advanced_metallurgy_medieval)
- Classical Monumental Construction (construction)
- Gastraphetes (Belly-Bow) (gastraphetes_belly_bow)
Dependents
- None.
Fields
- None.
Node sources
- Military technology - The infantry revolution, c. 1200-1500 (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2026, textbook) • Supports: node
Locator: Britannica describes the crossbow as a powerful medieval infantry weapon and notes its condemnation by the second Lateran Council in 1139, giving a firm medieval terminus ante quem. - Crossbow (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2026, textbook) • Supports: node
Locator: Britannica defines the crossbow mechanism as a bow fixed transversely on a stock with a groove, sear, and trigger, matching the node scope.
Prerequisite edge evidence
Edge/source evidence summary:
- Prerequisite edges: 3
- Average edge confidence: 68%
- Prerequisite sources: 1
- expert_inference: 3
| Prerequisite | Type | Confidence | Evidence level | Note | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastraphetes (Belly-Bow) (gastraphetes_belly_bow) | enabling | 68% | expert_inference | Gastraphetes (Belly-Bow) provides a capability that enables this technology without being the only possible path. | No sources recorded. |
| Classical Monumental Construction (construction) | enabling | 68% | expert_inference | Construction provides a capability that enables this technology without being the only possible path. |
|
| Advanced Metallurgy (Medieval) (advanced_metallurgy_medieval) | enabling | 68% | expert_inference | Advanced Metallurgy (Medieval) provides a capability that enables this technology without being the only possible path. | No sources recorded. |
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