Medieval Siege Weapons (1): Western Europe

The Medieval era was a period of huge variety and invention in the field of siege warfare. Before the use of cannon and other gun-powder artillery, siege engines relied on assorted sources of power from torsion 'energy storage' systems to man-power, counter-balances and others. This book reveals how the combining of technological traditions from the Graeco-Roman world, Persia, India and above all China made a massive contribution to the development of siege techniques. Medieval military engineering was equally inventive in terms of mining, counter-mining, the breaking of walls, the use of noxious and chemical fumes and the use of fire-weapons.

About the Author
Dr David Nicolle was born in 1944 and worked for the BBC, including the overseas broadcasting Service before returning to university, obtaining his PhD in Edinburgh. He subsequently taught at Yarmouk University in Jordan, since which he has contributed a substantial number of Osprey titles. He is a specialist in medieval arms and armour and has written several hardback books as well as numerous articles for specialist journals. He has also presented papers at many international conferences. Gerry Embleton has been a leading historical illustrator since the early 1970s. Gerry specialises in the medieval period, but has a keen interest in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. An illustrator, and author, of a number of Osprey titles, he now lives in Switzerland.