Did you know that crossbows were actually created in 700 BC? The crossbow was created in ancient China during the Zhou Dynasty, around the year 700 BC. A Chinese text, from 200 BC, credits Mr. Ch'in of Ch'u with creating the crossbow. It had a horizontal bow, with stock and trigger. The crossbow derives from the horizontal bow used by other civilizations at the same time. They had a range of up to 650 feet. The crossbow had a firing mechanism so difficult to use that it would be nearly impossible for an enemy to figure out how to use it, which reduces the chance of it being copied by enemy civilizations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The crossbow was not invented as an instrument of war, but as an instrument of peace. It was created to calm the wars between places at the end of the Zhou Dynasty. If someone had a better weapon, everyone else would stop fighting and listen to the people with crossbows. The crossbow was thought to be so advanced that around 200 BC a law was enacted to prevent people from taking crossbows out of China, for fear of enemies copying them. Crossbows and triggers were mass-produced so much so that, in 157 BC, a prince named Liang Hsiao Wang was the leader of regiments numbering 50,000 men and a few hundred thousand crossbows. Some crossbows were so large that they needed multiple men to fire them. In the 11th century, rapid-firing crossbows were created that could fire 20 arrows in 15 seconds. The Chinese used the crossbow for warfare as early as 1895. The crossbow is now used as a weapon for hunting and target shooting at archery ranges. Modern crossbows have many metal parts and are very light. A slightly modified version of the Chinese crossbow trigger mechanism is used in modern pistols. The ancient Chinese invented many things, but I think one of the most important of all is the crossbow. Crossbows have changed a lot since it was first invented by Mr. Ch'in. Originally, the crossbow was made of bronze and is now made of carbon. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In the beginning the crossbow was used for war and peace. Now they are used for hunting purposes. Crossbows have changed a lot since they were invented.