Watch this show, they build a small section of Medievil wall and fire the two Trebuchets at it 
Thanyou to the OP, I’ve been meaning to find out what this show was called for a long time, could’ve sworn I had the name of the series right, but whenever they show the series on UK TV (normally on the UKTV History channel) they show a pyramid one and something to do with the Incas, but never the Trebuchet one!
Just have to keep a note of the name of the show and keep an eye out for it.
Which brings up another question – are you talking about typhoid, cholera, diarrhea, etc.? Since there was no good sanitation anywhere, wouldn’t these people have acquired some resistance?
ffs, this is getting ridiculous, a week or two ago I replied to a thread about bombers, turned on the TV, and there was a show on about bombers. Just turned on the TV and guess what, Brainiac are doing ancient science stuff, including the Trebuchet! OK, the rocks they’re chucking are Motorhead, Aerosmith and Guns’n’Roses, but the idea’s still there.
Typhus and Bubonic Plague were the big ones I believe.
Interesting side note: in early instances of biological warfare, it was not uncommon for either side to use catapults to fling the dead and diseased (animal and human) into the forces of the enemy.
bump to remind people to watch (or program whatever gadgets they use to record) this show tonight.
I get PBS through Direct TV, like a national PBS feed. Nova comes on 7 PM Central on Wednesdays for me, and again at 5 PM Saturday and 6PM (I think) Sunday. That’s OK, if an episode creates a buzz, I get fair warning.
And danceswithcats, thanks for the Trebuchet Challenge.
Thanks very much. Just saw this and ran in to set the DVR! Missed the first 15min but at least not all of it.
Thanks again
Yep, thanks for the reminder. Great show, I remember seeing it a few years ago, but remember it as being good. One thing that the show served to remind me is that there are many shows that say they’re going to try to stick with ancient method’s, but this show stick with that the most. I’ve gotten used to chainsaws and power tools popping out after a day or two on other shows.
Who knew? Trebuchet is french for “f*cking AWESOME!”
I did. I have a trebuchet fetish and when money is to a point where I can play with it, I’m building myself a trebuchet. They fascinate me. I watched the Nova episode tonight and just giggled endlessly.
I think the US ought to bring back Trebuchets. I know they wouldn’t be that effective, and they’ve never been used by an American army before, but JEEZ it would be awesome to see a pair of tanks pulling a modern trebuchet into position.
sighs and heads off to bed with dreams of trebuchets flying through his head
Some of the larger castles had large enough courtyards that they could actually grow some crops, or maintain a herd of livestock, right within the castle walls.
I realized about five minutes into it I’d seen it before – but that was before I was a Doper with a trebuchet fetish, so it had a whole lot more resonance now.
The whole thing about how putting it on wheels actually helped with both stability and range was really cool.
That was indeed awesome. I was tickled when they talked about Wales and Edward I, because that’s what I’m reading now, the conflict between England and Wales in the 13th century. Edward isn’t king yet in the book, and there’s no foreshadowing of what kind of king he’ll be. Now I’m worried about Llewellyn and David and Wales.
Another question: Does a perfectly round object do more damage than an ordinary boulder? Or did they make it round because it was easier to roll it around?
IANAWME (I am not a War machine engineer…) so I have no information on this topic but I don’t know of any reason why one would do more damage than the other. A rounded object is simply easier to control and the weight is even such that there is no change of the object overhanging the sling of the trebuchet and thus possibly snagging or otherwise causing mischief with the machine. Damage wise though if they both flew properly the damage should be comparable.
I think Discovery ought to hire me and a few others to play with trebuchets weekly. We’ll throw things like cars and test questions like yours - all in favor email Discovery with my email address 