With some scrap wood, rope, hammer, 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 the legions of Tolkien fans, budding backyard warriors, and engineering wizards, this book is a must-have.

Acknowledgments -- Time line -- Introduction: Days before gunpowder -- Always be careful -- Science of siege -- Catapults around the world: Spring engine catapult -- Viking catapult -- Shooting snakes in a barrel--Catapults of Alexander the Great: Alexander's artillery: Macedonian ballista -- Slings of the ancients: Ballearic hand sling -- Thracian staff sling -- Black flag flies over acre--Saladin, Richard, and the third crusade: God's stone thrower: Traction-style catapult -- Cabulus, the great horse trebuchet: Cabulus, the great horse trebuchet -- John Crabbe--Tinkerer, sailor, soldier, spy: Making rope -- Wild donkey: Onager catapult -- Hammer of the Scots: Ludgar, the war wolf -- Sun sets on catapult warfare: Basket-pult.