Ancient China, in the Zhou Dynasty state of Ch'u, 700 B.C. The Medieval crossbow was introduced to England by William the Conqueror in 1066.

Archers were used as infantry, chariot riders, and cavalry over the centuries, and while the weapon’s importance was challenged by the crossbow and sword, it remained a vital component of a commander’s battlefield strategy, especially in the opening … Crossbow, leading missile weapon of the Middle Ages, consisting of a short bow fixed transversely on a stock, originally of wood; it had a groove to guide the missile, usually called a bolt, a sear to hold the string in the cocked position, and a trigger to release it. Some historians believe the Chinese had even already invented the first crude crossbows as early as 2,000 BC.

One Tang dynastysource recommends a bow to crossbow ratio of five to one as …

Some historians believe the Chinese had even already invented the first crude crossbows as early as 2,000 BC.

In China the crossbow was one of the primary military weapons from the Warring States period until the end of the Han dynasty, when armies composed of up to 30 to 50 percent crossbowmen were not unheard of. The Greeks and the Romans were also known to use this weapon.

220 BC: The writing system of China becomes standardized by the government. More conclusive evidence of ancient Chinese crossbows, however, comes from around the 6th century BC, if not earlier. He has the Great Wall of China built by extending and connecting existing walls to protect the people from the Mongols.

The crossbow may have been first invented in ancient China. Since the use of the crossbow occurred before the manuscript was written, it cannot be said for sure whether use of the crossbow originated in China – though it is certainly possible. The crossbow may have been first invented in ancient China . A 4th-Century BC text mentions a giant crossbow being used in the 6th or 5th Century BC, while Sun Tzu’s classic text on military tactics, The Art of War, which dates to 500–300 BC, mentions the crossbow several times. Firearm weren't always superior. Before we get too deep in to why crossbows are so important … The History of the Crossbow dates back to 600BC in Ancient China. popular for the defense of royal entourages and for hunting; the later For the purpose of this entry, it is assumed that the descriptive term "crossbow" refers to the traditional medieval weapon, though its origins place it as an ancient design used by the revolutionary Chinese and among other ancient civilizations of the time.

Crossbows were in use in China by the fifth century BCE and quickly became an important element in the warfare of the Warring States period. 221 - 206 BC: Qin Dynasty 221 BC: Qin Shi Huangdi becomes the first Emperor of China. Warf  An ancient Chinese civilization, known as the Han (pronounced Haun) Dynasty, was able to use their excelling military tactics and weapons to expand their empire.The army of the Han Dynasty was large, well-organized, and consisted of 130,000 to 300,000 men that served two years in the army somewhere between the ages of 25 and 60. The enemy China fights and logistics for items like Gunpowder are the main reasons. The Yellow River in Ancient China The recorded history of Chinese civilization begins on the banks of the Yellow River with the …

Short answer: they were similar to 17th century Western European infantry (and also 17th and 18th century Chinese infantry). The arrows had wooden shafts and feathered, wooden or paper vanes for stability in their trajectory. The bow was the most common weapon in ancient Chinese warfare and the skill of using it was the most esteemed martial art for millennia.