Siege tower

Timeline

1. c. -500–500Mediterranean world · MediterraneanSince classical times, Mediterranean civilizations used movable towers in siege warfare to suppress defenders on the walls with height advantage and provide access for assault troops; the technique passed through the Byzantine and Islamic worlds into the medieval period.
2. 1141Anatolian-Syrian frontier · AnatoliaDuring the Second Crusade of 1147–1149, the coalition forces employed wooden siege towers while crossing Anatolia and in preparatory actions toward the siege of Damascus, together with trebuchets, battering rams, and sappers digging trenches; but due to supply and coordination problems, siege results were limited, still reflecting the standard configuration of Crusader siege systems in the 1140s.
3. c. 1200–1300Acre and Crusader coastal fortresses · LevantWhile the Crusader states endured in the 13th century, siege towers were still used alongside counterweight trebuchets and other engines; large wooden towers are recorded in the sieges and defenses of fortresses such as Acre, remaining one of the core siege weapons until gunpowder became widespread.