Bows That Changed History

Archery stands as one of humanity’s oldest and most adaptable skills. What originated as a hunting and survival mechanism eventually became an instrument of empire, cultural identity, and modern sport. Archaeological evidence from southern Africa suggests bow-and-arrow technology emerged tens of thousands of years ago.

The best-preserved ancient specimens come from Holmegaard Bog in Denmark (circa 7000 BC) - sleek elm self bows with broad limbs and narrow grips that perform similarly to contemporary designs.

As civilizations advanced through agriculture and urbanization, archery transitioned from the hunt to the battlefield. The right bow, matched to terrain, climate, and tactics, could change the course of nations.

The Mongol Composite Bow (1200-1400 CE)

The Mongol composite bow represented remarkable engineering: a wood core layered with horn on the belly and sinew on the back, sealed with animal-hide glue and lacquer. This construction stored tremendous energy in a compact, cold-resistant frame ideal for steppe warfare.

Mongol archers learned from childhood, progressing from ground-based practice to mounted shooting at speed. The thumb draw technique, often assisted by horn or metal rings, enabled hit-and-run accuracy.

Warriors carried specialized arrows:

• Heavy narrow heads for armored opponents
• Broader heads for horses and unarmored soldiers
• Whistling arrows for coordination and signaling

The tactical system combined light, mobile forces with devastating firepower. Commanders could harass supply lines, break formations, and control when - or whether - to close for melee combat.

The English/Welsh Longbow (1250-1460 CE)

The longbow functioned as both weapon and social institution. English and Welsh yeomen trained continuously from youth at village “butts” during market days and holidays. This sustained practice culture produced archers capable of drawing bows matching their own height.

The yew self bow naturally combined pale sapwood (excellent in tension) with darker heartwood (excellent in compression). Draw weights were substantial, leaving skeletal marks - enlarged stress features in shoulders and arms - visible on period remains.

Military organization was sophisticated. Specialized craftspeople supplied armies with “cloth-yard” shafts fitted with different tips: bodkins to penetrate mail, broader heads for unarmored targets. Archers deployed with 24-arrow sheaves plus wagon-loads of additional ammunition.

In major engagements like Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt, archers positioned forward or on flanks behind sharpened stakes. Arrow storms raised shields, fatigued troops, shattered formations, and created openings for infantry to advance.

The Mary Rose wreck preserved hundreds of longbows and thousands of arrows, confirming archery’s central role in Tudor logistics and warfare.

Plains Indigenous Sinew-Backed Bows (1700-1875 CE)

Short, quick, and environmentally adapted, Plains bows reflected mounted cultures. Nations including the Lakota, Cheyenne, Crow, Blackfoot, and Comanche favored bows under four feet long.

Makers selected resilient local woods - osage orange in southern regions, ash or chokecherry northward - then backed staves with twisted animal sinew set in hide glue. This backing functioned as a spring, adding snap and toughness ideal for close-range mounted shooting.

Arrows varied by purpose: heavy shafts for bison, lighter for small game or combat. Equipment traveled as integrated sets: bow, case, and quiver mounted from saddles. Decoration using quillwork, beadwork, and paint marked achievements, identity, and spiritual connections.

The compact bow excelled during buffalo hunts - easy to operate from horseback with rapid draw and sufficient penetration for clean kills. In intertribal conflicts, these same characteristics enabled speed, surprise, and close-distance precision.

Connection to Modern Practice

At Academie Duello, we teach archery as martial art rather than sport alone. Training utilizes recurve, longbow, flat bow, and Asiatic composite bows. Our approach emphasizes posture, breathing, and shot technique alongside both Mediterranean and thumb releases, timed shooting, and tactical problem-solving.