Fear was the key in ancient times. Olden philosophers would use their brains in conceiving contraptions that would amaze and frighten the commoners. Archimedes, widely regarded for his principles on buoyancy, used lens to burn down ships. That was too much to chew in those times. It cannot be summed up as top how conceived it, but the seize catapults was one of the two chilling inventions of those times, the second being guillotine. What gave seize catapults the edge was the havoc it would create from far off.
A very heavy setup was built with the heady balance of the still and the moving. They would burn midnight oil to build Trebuchet (improved catapults) and then exult with destruction. The pivot rod was built stable and strong and with the capacity to navigate huge weight. On one side was positioned a counterpoised weight. Mainly hardwood, stones d other heavy object would be positioned on the counterpoise. The structure would resemble today’s seesaw. A pulley would be used to control the movable end.
Weights of 100 to 200 kilograms would be placed. It is not hard to imagine what destruction that kind of weight would wreak. There was also the subject of flames, dead animals and manure dung. Either the victim would die or feel very ungainly with human dung poured on him. The weight would break even the strongest defense and people would take flight at the sight of Trebuchet. Those would did not have Trebuchets would seek theories on how to build a Trebuchet from the same fellows during peace.
It started as early as 600 AD and Chin was the initiator. The art spread through the warriors that would move everywhere. Indian wars were notable in use of Trebuchet. Even the British wars did have earnest use of Trebushay. Yes, in the initial days as science was not very affluent, things would often become a mess. The length of slings would be long, hurling bags would be awkwardly flexible, cross braces would be very ineptly made and projectile movement would also be much unbidden. After many options and attempts, things got better and Trebuchet plans became more long reaching.
Armies would move in the wee hours and suddenly start their Mission Destruction. Stones of inordinate sizes would be thrown with harsh effect and there would be immense casualty. This led to the reference of wars with destruction. When nuclear wars take place today, we are automatically taken to those times and understand how the instinct has been ingrained in us.
