The earliest known crossbows were made in the first millennium BC, as early as the 7th century BC in ancient China and as early as the 1st century AD in Greece (known as gastraphetes). Crossbows brought about a major shift in the role of projectile weaponry in wars, such as during Qin's unification wars and later Han campaigns against northern nomads and western states. The medieval European crossbow was called by many names, including "crossbow" itself; most of these names derived from the word ballista, an ancient Greek torsion siege engine similar in appearance but different in design principle.
The earliest known crossbows were made in the first millennium BC as early as the 7th century BC in ancient China and as early as the 1st century AD in Greece (known as gastraphetes). Crossbows brought about a major shift in the role of projectile weaponry in wars such as during Qin's unification wars and later Han campaigns against northern nomads and western states. The medieval European crossbow was called by many names including "crossbow" itself; most of these names derived from the word ballista, an ancient Greek torsion siege engine similar in appearance but different in design principle.