The bow and arrow was man's greatest invention, after the spear, for hunting and self-protection. A man with a spear had to get very close to his enemy. He could shoot from a safe distance with the bow and arrow. He had more arrows to try again if he missed the first time. Man has used the bow and arrow for more than 10,000 years. The first bow was wood, pulled into a curve by a bow string.
Arrows were reeds, with tips of stone and later iron or bronze. Arrows have feathers on the back end to make them fly straight and a notch to fit on the bow string. The arrow and the bow string were pulled back and released suddenly. The bow straightened out and shot the arrow through the air.
Crossbows were built in Europe about 800 years ago. The bow had a rifle-like stock and was held sideways. It was so strong that sometimes it took two men to hook the string and arrow to the trigger. The arrow was fired by pulling the trigger.
The fifteenth-century English longbow was best. It was made of wood. A good archer could shoot it accurately for 400 yards (364 meters).
After about 1500, guns became more useful than bows and arrows for hunting and war.
Today the bow and arrow is used for sport—chiefly hunting and target shooting (archery).
