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Hallie Litt
History 134.132313
Professor Lark
25 July 2016
Military History: The Use of Siege Engines
The use of siege engines in the Middle Ages gives up a glimpse of what warfare was like
at the time. Siege engines were designed in order to break down walls and other defenses. There
are three main types of siege engines, the Ballista, the catapult and the trebuchet, although there
were other types such as scaling ladders, battering rams and mining (Medieval Warfare).
These ancient weapons are a tribute to mans ingenuity and imagination, and they respectfully
remind us of the conflict and brutality inherent in humankind (Siege Engines: Medieval
Mechanical Mayhem).
The use of the Ballista siege engine was used mostly in defense. The word itself comes
from the Greek word throw. The Greeks invented this weapon and it was later altered by the
Romans. It was an irreplaceable attack weapon that was similar to a crossbow. The force of the
missile shot from a ballista was strong enough to take out multiple enemies at once ("Ballista).
Overall, the Ballista was a valuable military tool in the Middle Ages.
The catapult was also a type of siege engine used in history. The catapult was one of the
most effective weapons used in the Middle Ages. Catapults were used to launch missiles into
walls or other defense systems. This type of siege engine was used by the Greek, Romans, the
Chinese, and throughout Europe later on (History of Catapults). The catapult is probably the
most well-known name of the siege engines used in the Middle Ages and throughout history.

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The last of the three main categories of siege engines is the Trebuchet. This weapon is
similar to the catapult in the sense that it hurls the stones or missiles in a similar way. Like the
Ballista, this too is considered an invaluable weapon of the Medieval times of the Middle Ages.
The Trebuchet was used to attack city walls and defenses and was capable of turning castles and
fortresses into ruins ("Trebuchet).
Overall, siege engines had an important role in Medieval war history. They were valuable
tools in warfare, making it easier to get into cities through breaking down defense systems. The
three main types of siege engines used at the time were Ballistas, catapults and Trebuchets.

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Works Cited
"Ballista." Ballista. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016.
"History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults." History of Catapults - Physics of Catapults. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.
"Medieval Warfare." & Medieval Arms. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016.
"Siege Engines: Medieval Mechanical Mayhem." Siege EnginesMedieval Mechanical
Mayhem. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 July 2016.
"Trebuchet." Trebuchet. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.