Archery

“An army of deer led by a lion is more to be feared than an army of lions led by a deer.” — attributed to Chabrias

The bow and arrow gave humanity its first true ranged weapon — the ability to strike at a distance, whether hunting game or defending against enemies. This simple technology of bent wood and taut string remained a decisive military instrument for millennia.

Unlocks

• Units: Archer

Historical Background

The bow appears to have been invented independently across multiple continents, with the earliest definitive evidence dating to around 10,000 BCE in Europe, though stone arrowheads from Africa may push that date back to 70,000 years ago. Initially a hunting tool, the bow was quickly adapted for warfare, offering the critical advantage of killing at range — before an enemy could close to striking distance.

Ancient civilisations refined archery into a devastating military art. Egyptian composite bows, Assyrian mounted archers, and later the legendary longbows of the English and the composite recurve bows of the Mongol horse archers all demonstrated that mastery of the bow could decide the fate of empires. The Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where English longbowmen shattered a French army many times their number, stands as one of archery’s most famous military triumphs.