Did you know that the English longbow was the "machine gun" of the medieval era, with its effectiveness being far greater than the crossbow?

The English longbow, typically made of yew wood, was one of the most powerful weapons in the Middle Ages that could change the course of battles. Measuring up to six feet in length, this weapon was highly regarded for its power and accuracy-trained archers could accurately shoot their target from over 200 yards.

The longbow also had a faster rate of fire compared to crossbows. Archers could release up to twelve arrows in a minute, while a crossbowman could only fire a maximum of three bolts in the same span of time. Because of this, longbowmen could unleash a devastating rain of arrows upon their enemies, disrupting their formations so the other units could charge in.

The medieval archers also required less training time to master the art of the longbow since the weapon's mechanics were far simpler than that of crossbows. The most significant advantage of the longbow, however, was its penetrating power. An accurate shot could easily pierce through the armor of medieval soldiers. These archers would also fire at charging steeds to take down mounted knights. Without their mounts, heavily armored knights would be rendered immobile, making them almost completely vulnerable.

The battles of Crécy and Agincourt were great examples where the English longbow proved its worth. At least until the world was introduced to firearms, English longbows were considered the undisputed king of medieval ranged weaponry.

The history of the Middle Ages is rather complex and intricate. With so many events taking place simultaneously, curious readers might get confused over time. But that is about to change as this all-new history book allows you to easily explore the gripping events that took place within this interesting period.

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• The fall of the Western Roman Empire, which sparked the beginning of the medieval era
• The rise of the Byzantine Empire, which proved the Romans never entirely fell
• The emergence of Islam and the Muslims' interference in the European sphere
• How the Vikings spread terror across England
• The invasions of the Seljuk Turks that sparked the First Crusade
• The daunting murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury
• How Joan of Arc was burned to death
• How the Ottomans breached through the impregnable Constantinople
• The start of the Renaissance, an era of rebirth
• And much, much more!