**History of Archery:**
– Oldest evidence of bow and arrow from South African sites
– Earliest remains of bow and arrow in Europe
– Signs of bow and arrow use in Europe
– Bows replacing spear-throwers
– Presence of bows and arrows in various ancient civilizations
**Origins and Ancient Archery:**
– Oldest evidence dating back 72,000 to 60,000 years ago
– Use of arrows in Europe around 13,500 years ago
– Oldest known bows found in Denmark
– Stone-tipped arrows used as weapons around 10,000 years ago
– Various ancient civilizations fielded large numbers of archers
**Medieval Archery:**
– Medieval shortbow’s range of approximately 91m (299ft)
– Introduction of crossbow in Europe around the tenth century
– English army relied on massed archers armed with the longbow
– Longbow’s range of up to 270m (890ft)
– Significant victories at battles like Crecy and Agincourt
**Archery in Classical Civilizations:**
– Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, and other civilizations fielded large numbers of archers
– Egyptians and Nubians known for their archery skills
– Use of composite bows in warfare
– Specialized bow makers in Bronze Age Aegean Cultures
– Welsh longbow’s success at the Battle of Crecy
**Archery in Asia and the Americas:**
– Archery highly developed in Asia
– Goguryeo in Korea known for skilled archers
– Archery widespread in the Americas
– Sanskrit term for archery referred to martial arts
– Use of bows in warfare in various Asian civilizations
Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows. The word comes from the Latin arcus, meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In modern times, it is mainly a competitive sport and recreational activity. A person who practices archery is typically called an archer, bowman, or toxophilite.
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