Documented evidence shows that the crossbow was an important military weapon starting in the 4^th century B.C. How long it existed before that is not known. Crossbow stocks and bolts have been found in China dating back to at least the mid-5^th century B.C. An early European examplethe Greek gastraphetesis known to have originated before 420 B.C. Gastraphetes means “belly-bow”as you might guess, the bow rested against the archer’s stomach. The weapon was similar in most respects to later crossbows, but it was armed by pushing down a slider rather than by pulling up a string.Repeating crossbows have been found in China dating back to the 4^th century B.C. Known as Cho Ko Nu, these weapons combined the actions of stringing the bow, placing the bolt, and shooting into one movement. In Europe, the ballista was later developed as a siege weapon capable of launching darts or stone projectiles with tremendous power and speed. The makers claimed that it could be operated by an old woman while still being successful against armored troops. A smaller version of the ballista known as the scorpio also became popular with the Roman legions.By medieval times, crossbows were considered the obvious alternative to old-fashioned longbows. What they lacked in accuracy and shooting rate, crossbows made up for with their greater kinetic energy and shorter training period periods. Mounted and unmounted crossbowmen were generally the frontrunners of European armies during this time, clearing a space for knights to enter.Today, crossbows are mainly used for target shooting in modern archery. This sport is governed by the International Crossbow-Shooting Union, founded in Germany in 1956. Shooting can be done from either a standing or kneeling position, depending on the event. The crossbow is loaded with a lever and fired at a target card.In some places, crossbows are also still used in hunting. Hunters often use accessories like scopes and quivers. However, regulations may prevent you from legally using a crossbow for hunting in your state without a handicap permit. Check a site like HuntersFriend.com for more information.