Medieval Day
The physics of Midevil Siege Weapons.
What was siege warfare?
Siege Warfare was a Medieval military operation involving the surrounding and blockading of a town, castle or fortress by an army in the attempt to capture it. To lay siege or to besiege. The term derives from the Middle English word 'sege' from the Old French meaning blockade.
Medieval times was the era when great castles were built acting as a power base for the Kings, Lords and Knights. A new type of warfare called Siege Warfare was waged to win a castle or a walled town or city. Medieval Siege Warfare was a frequent occurrence during the Middle Ages. Medieval Siege Warfare called for a variety of different siege weapons and siege engines.
Taken from Medieval Life and Times
One of the weapons used in siege warfare was the trebuchet. The Trebuchet was an invaluable Medieval siege attack weapon, similar to a catapult, which was used for hurling heavy stones to smash castle or city walls. Medieval engineers of the Middle Ages worked hard on the design of the Trebuchet to ensure that this siege weapon and the aim of this type of catapult, or sling, would have the greatest effect. The force of the Trebuchet was capable of reducing castles, fortresses and cities to rubble.
Taken from Lords and Ladies
Medieval times was the era when great castles were built acting as a power base for the Kings, Lords and Knights. A new type of warfare called Siege Warfare was waged to win a castle or a walled town or city. Medieval Siege Warfare was a frequent occurrence during the Middle Ages. Medieval Siege Warfare called for a variety of different siege weapons and siege engines.
Taken from Medieval Life and Times
One of the weapons used in siege warfare was the trebuchet. The Trebuchet was an invaluable Medieval siege attack weapon, similar to a catapult, which was used for hurling heavy stones to smash castle or city walls. Medieval engineers of the Middle Ages worked hard on the design of the Trebuchet to ensure that this siege weapon and the aim of this type of catapult, or sling, would have the greatest effect. The force of the Trebuchet was capable of reducing castles, fortresses and cities to rubble.
Taken from Lords and Ladies
Machines and the Trebuchet
To understand the Trebuchet and how it works, you must understand simple and compound machines.
- Watch this video to understand Simple Machines.
- Next, work through this interactive about using Simple Machines to accomplish Work more easily.
- If you put two or more Simple Machines you create a Compound Machine. Trebuchets are compound machines. Do this interactive to understand how compound machines work.
- Now we are ready for the trebuchet. This interactive will have you build a trebuchet and understand how they work.
- This simulation is very complex. When you change the numbers on the left hand side, your model appears. Play with variables, and see which makes the most difference.
- Watch this video on the importance of a siege weapon, and how it changed the way castles were built.