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Archery in history
Throughout the world we possess evidence of early archery, even found in areas where at one time it has been assumed that the bow and arrow was not used, such as Australia.
It is thought that archery most likely dates back to around 20,000 BC which is in the Stone Age, but the ancient Egyptians are credited as being the oldest known people to have used the bow and arrow. Archery was adopted by the ancient Egyptians at least 5000 years ago for the purpose of both hunting and warfare.
Around 1200 BC the Hittites, a primeval race who occupied what in the present day is known as Turkey and northern Syria, used the bow and arrow from quick, light chariots that enabled them to rise to be feared adversaries in Middle Eastern hostilities.
Their neighbours known as the Assyrians, who originated in Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria also used archery extensively. They reshaped the bow to a recurve shape that was shorter and much more powerful enabling them to be handled at lot easier by an archer on horseback. They also used several different types of material to build bows including horn, tendon and wood.
Inside China archery can be followed as far back as the Shang dynasty which occurred between 1766 and 1027 BC when combat chariots carried a trio of men the driver, lancer and archer.
During the proceeding Zhou dynasty 1027-256 BC the Chinese aristocrats at court loved watching archery sporting competitions that were acted out along with music and a substantial measure of fanfare.
The Chinese introduced civil archery to the Japanese in around the 6th century and it bore a enduring effect on future techniques and customs. Japanese Martial Arts presently known as kyudo (way of the bow) is still taught in Japan in the unvaried traditional ways. A bow over 2 metres in length and made from wood, bamboo and coated strips is used for shooting a target assembled in a roofed bank of sand.
In the Geco-Roman period, the bow was used more for human adventures or hunting than it was for conflict, Archery is often portrayed on earthenware dating back to that era.
The Romans are not believed to have been terribly skilled archers, in all probability because up till the 5th century the bows they owned were shot by drawing out the string to the chest rather than the facial area which affords the arrow far better precision.
Enemies such as the Parthians had far better skills; they were accomplished horsemen who were able to shoot backwards by swivelling around in the saddle often at full speed.
The domination of the archery equipment and styles implemented by the people of the Middle East prevailed for centuries. Attila the Hun and his Mongolians, employing bows comparable with those of the Parthians and Assyrians, overcame a good deal of Asia and Europe and the Crusaders were driven off by Turkish archers.
The bow personified a means of existence in the days of English and afterwards American colonization and is still so in some countries on the African continent
The popularity of archery has also been reflected in many songs and folklore, probably the most famous being Robin Hood, but archery is also often referenced in Greek mythology.
The first recognised archery competition included 3000 participants and was held at Finsbury, England in 1583.
By the time of the European 30 Year War between 1618 and 1648 due to the introduction of guns, it had become obvious that he bow and arrow as a weapon system belonged to a foregone era.
Since that period of time, archery has become extremely popular as a recreational sport.
