History Of Archery

Bows and Culture

5000 BCE

Bows have often been used by various Gods and Goddesses over the centuries in many different religions. Bows have been often used to symbolize the hunt. It was often in the hands of deities which embodied the hunting of wild game and Warfare. Examples are the Greek Gods Apollo and Artemis.

The Traditional Bow

2000 BCE

This bow is the most commonly used and easily crafted. It generally is a single piece of wood that is heated and waxed to make it flexible. The bow is sanded for many hours and is often crafted with a handle carved out in the middle.

Modern Bows

200

Modern bows "like compound bows are made of synthetic material and are made with a variety of materials like carbon fibers and metals.

Kyudo

1000

Kyudo is the ancient art of Archery in Japan. In Kyudo they put discipline above all other aspects in this art. It was practiced originally by Samurai and Warlords but today it is practiced by all.

Kyudo Bow

1000

The ancient bow of Japan was crafted from Bamboo and is held a third of the way down rather then in the center. It is also larger than any other bow used in history.

Bows Of The Past

1200

The oldest known bow ever recovered was one from Denmark. The weapon would be classified as a longbow because it does not curve or bend without a bowstring to create tension. It is 7,000 years old and has only survived due to the preservative properties of the bog it was found in. Many bows like it were created all over the world. Whether it was for hunting or for war the bow is a useful and reliable tool. The bow is almost as old as the human race and is still being used today.

Bows In Warfare

1250

Bows were used all over the world as weapons of war. Many cultures have even developed archery to a point were it is an art. Bows have played a part in almost all major historical battles. An example is the Battle of Agincourt.

Battle Of Agincourt

1415

The Battle Of Agincourt was a bloody one. Over half of the French Nobles were brought low by the English longbow. At the time the English had with them around 7,500 long-bowmen to the French's 1,000 Mercenary Crossbowmen. Not only did longbows have a longer range they were also more numerous. Even thought the French had a larger host, the longbows prevailed.That day the English claimed a decisive victory from what should have been a terrible loss all because of the longbow.

Re-curve Bows

1500

This kind of bows are different because of their characteristic bend. It is made like a traditional bow except it has been reinforced with materials other than wood for instance it has the sinew and horn of cattle. The main difference is in how it is strung. When the bow is crafted it is almost in a U shape but when it is strung they bend the arms of the bow back and it makes the power of the bow increase tenfold.

Longbows

1900

These bows were often favored by the English and were used in many of their battles. They are different from other bows because they are made of yew wood which is very flexible and allows for lengthy bows which are very springy. That is why these bows pack a punch.