Build Greek ballistae, Roman onagers, English trebuchets, and more ancient artillery...

Calling all pumpkin-chuckers, wannabe marauders, and tinkerers of all ages! Flinging things and playing at defending your own castle has never been more fun.

With some scrap wood, rope, hammer, and nails and this book, build seven historic catapults including Ludgar the War Wolf, God’s Stone Thrower, Cabulus, and the Wild Donkey — simple yet sophisticated hurling machines that rely on the fundamentals of math and physics using levers, force, torsion, tension, and traction.

Through these exciting projects, the colorful history of siege warfare comes to life — the stories of Alexander the Great and the battle of Tyre; Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, and the Third Crusade; pirate-turned-soldier John Crabbe and his ship-mounted catapults; and Edward I of England and his battle against the Scots at Stirling Castle. For budding backyard warriors and engineering wizards, this book is a must-have.

A wonderful blend of science, history, and fun... An inspiration for another generation of tinkerers and future engineers. —Grigg Mullen, Professor of Engineering, Virginia Militiary Institute and builder of catapults featured on PBS’s NOVA program “Medieval Siege”