Composite Bow

Timeline

1. c. -1000–-850Southern edge of the Eurasian Steppe · Eurasian SteppeSteppe nomadic groups had already widely adopted laminated composite bows for mounted archery hunting and warfare; the bows were short yet strong, easy to stow on horseback and quick to shoot, laying the technological foundation for later spread to settled empires.
2. c. -900–-600Heartland of the Assyrian Empire · MesopotamiaAssyria and other Western Asian powers equipped chariot archers, infantry, and mercenary mounted archer units with composite bows; specialized bowyers and material supply systems emerged in courts and military camps, and reliefs and administrative documents preserve extensive records of their use.
3. c. -600–-500Iranian Plateau · Iranian PlateauAchaemenid Persia integrated bowyer techniques from across its domains; the composite bow became the standard ranged weapon of elite units such as the Immortals as well as provincial levies, forming a combined-arms system together with javelins and short swords.