Archery Day – May 8, 2027

History of Archery Day

Using a bow and arrow is the best way to hunt animals. The earliest use of arrows dates back to Africa, as far back as 72,000 to 60,000 years ago. Every civilization used some type of bow, which they developed independently. Archery provided a safe way to bring down big game from the comfort of a safe distance.

Nations evolved out of early human settlements, and war became a common sight. A simple tool used for hunting soon turned out to be a deadly weapon of war. The Mongols invented composite recurve bows with lethal accuracy and ease of use. Genghis Khan’s military used these bows lethally in their conquests and reduced kingdoms to wastelands.

In ancient warfare, archery was the pinnacle of projective weapons. It laid the foundation for modern warfare and helped shape the modern world. Regardless, only those with the strength to draw the bowstring and accuracy could become an archer.
The invention of crossbows made it easy for anyone to be an archer. Around the seventh century B.C., the Chinese discovered crossbows. In his book, “Belopoeica” Greek author Heron of Alexandria describes the use of ‘gastraphetes.’ These are also a form of crossbow used in Greece as early as the fourth century B.C.

In any form, archery defined warfare for thousands of years. Many wars were fought and won by archers, be it the horseback archers of the Mongols who decimated entire nations, the European longbow archers, or the crossbow users. Archers have helped shape warfare from a melee form to a long-range art. Modern warfare sees the decline of bows and arrows, but archery remains an inspiration for every modern weapon produced, from handguns to long-distance ballistic missiles fired from continents apart.