Although handheld repeating crossbows were generally weak and required additional poison, probably aconite, for lethality, much larger mounted versions appeared during the Ming dynasty. When was the 1st crossbow invented The earliest known crossbows were invented in the first millennium BC, not later than the 7th century BC in ancient China, not later than the 1st century AD in Greece (as the gastraphetes), each civilization developed the weapon independently of each other. The Ming repeating crossbow uses an arming mechanism which requires its user to push a rear lever upwards and downwards back and forth. Unlike repeating crossbows of later eras, the ancient double shot repeating crossbow uses a pistol grip and a rear pulling mechanism for arming. This is corroborated by the earliest archaeological evidence of repeating crossbows, which was excavated from a Chu burial site at Tomb 47 at Qinjiazui, Hubei Province, and has been dated to the 4th century BC, during the Warring States Period (475 - 220 BC). Early crossbows were used as military weapons. The first crossbows were invented in ancient China and cause a major shift in projectile weaponry’s role.

It might have been developed in Asia and brought to Europe by early explorers, or possibly it was developed simultaneously on both continents. The earliest known crossbows were made in the first millennium BC, not later than the 7th century BC in ancient China, and not later than the 1st century AD. No one knows where the crossbow was created.

It is also known as the Zhuge crossbow (romanized Chu-ko-nu) due to its association with the Three Kingdoms-era strategist Zhuge Liang (181–234 AD).Īccording to the Wu-Yue Chunqiu (history of the Wu-Yue War), written in the Eastern Han dynasty, the repeating crossbow was invented during the Warring States Period by a Mr. The crossbow is believed to have existed for more than 2000 years, long before gunpowder was invented in China. Crossbows originated from ancient China, they were invented during the Zhou dynasty, around the year 700 BC. The repeating crossbow is a Chinese crossbow that was invented during the Warring States period, and remained in use until the late Qing dynasty.

When was the crossbow invented