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Where an bow could fire an arrow that could cause a single casualty, the projectiles of catapults could be destructive on a larger scale.

Some catapults of the ballista type, which threw gigantic arrows, were used early in the middle ages, before castles were made with thick stone outer walls, and they could penetrate the wooden palisades and doors of early castles.

Later in the middle ages, catapults such as the onager, which had a arm with a cup on the end, could throw rocks against walls with enough force to chip away at them, eventually to cause a breach. They could also throw incendiary devices against gates and other vulnerable places.

Trebuchets were huge things that could toss heavy objects over walls. The included incendiary devices, but also include such things as the dead bodies of various animals or, more deadly, people who had died of epidemic diseases, over wall.

Catapults passed out of use with the introduction of cannons.

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14y ago
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14y ago

Because they didn't have cannons or guns or anything like that.

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Q: Why did the middle ages use catapults?
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When were catapults used?

Some catapults were used in the middle ages to try and get into Medieval Castles. The Romans had catapults. I had a hand catapult when I was a youngster.


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The catapults have not influenced modern society much. They were the artillery of antiquity and Middle Ages. They were superseded by the spread of the use of the cannon in the 14th and 15th centuries.


Who used catapults in the middle ages?

if they were invented, every buddy, or China.


Do people still use catapults?

The catapault was used mainly in war. The catapault was made in the middle ages, a kind of cousin of a cannon.


What are trebuchet used for?

Trebuchets are massive catapults that were used in the Middle Ages in siege warfare.


What were trebuchets?

Trebuchets are large catapults used to hurl rocks. Much used by the Roman armies and subsequently right up to the Middle ages. They were usually built in the field, and to many ingenious designs.Trebuchets are large catapults used to hurl rocks. Much used by the Roman armies and subsequently right up to the Middle ages.


What are the uses of the catapult?

During the Middle Ages, catapults were used to fling diseased animals across into enemy fortresses and cities.


Did catapults come from vikings or medieval knights?

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