Defending Your Castle : Build Catapults, Crossbows, Moats, Bulletproof Shields, and More Defensive Devices to Fend Off the Invading Hordes

A man's home is his castle, or so the saying goes, but could it withstand an attack by Attila and the Huns, Ragnar and the Vikings, Alexander and the Greeks, Genghis Khan and the Mongols, or Tamerlane and the Tartars? Backyard Ballistics author William Gurstelle poses this fascinating question to modern-day garage warriors and shows them how to build an arsenal of ancient artillery and fortifications aimed at withstanding these invading hordes. Each chapter introduces a new bad actor in the history of warfare, details his conquests, and features weapons and fortifications to defend against him and his minions. Clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build a dozen projects, including "Da Vinci's Catapult," "Carpini's Crossbow," a "Crusader-Proof Moat," "Alexander's Tortoise," and the "Cheval-de-frise." With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind many of the projects, and shows where to buy the materials. By the time they've reached the last page, at-home defenders everywhere will have succeeded in creating a fully fortified home.;A cast of bad actors -- Ghenghis Khan and the Mongols -- Attila and the Huns -- Alexander the Great and the Greeks -- Tamerlane and the Tatars -- Peter the Hermit and his crusaders -- Ragnar Lodbrok and the Vikings -- Conclusion. A man’s home is his castle, or so the saying goes, but could it withstand an attack by Attila and the Huns, Ragnar and the Vikings, Alexander and the Greeks, Genghis Khan and the Mongols, or Tamerlane and the Tartars? Backyard Ballistics author William Gurstelle poses this fascinating question to modern-day garage warriors and shows them how to build an arsenal of ancient artillery and fortifications aimed at withstanding these invading hordes. Each chapter introduces a new bad actor in the history of warfare, details his conquests, and features weapons and fortifications to defend against him and his minions. Clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build a dozen projects, including “Da Vinci’s Catapult,” “Carpini’s Crossbow,” a “Crusader-Proof Moat,” “Alexander’s Tortoise,” and the “Cheval-de-frise.” With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind many of the projects, and shows where to buy the materials. By the time they’ve reached the last page, at-home defenders everywhere will have succeeded in creating a fully fortified home. Front Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Dedication 4 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 1. A Cast of Bad Actors 10 General Safety Guidelines 20 2. Genghis Khan and the Mongols 22 Hudun Pao: The Crouching Tiger Catapult 29 Carpini’s Crossbow 38 Mongol Smoke Monster 48 3. Attila and the Huns 52 The Palisade Wall 57 The Hidden Book Safe 65 4. Alexander the Great and the Greeks 72 Alexander’s Tortoise 80 The High-Tech Backpack Shield 89 5. Tamerlane and the Tatars 96 The Tatar-Proofed Castle Door 102 Da Vinci’s Catapult 114 6. Peter the Hermit and His Crusaders 130 Crusader-Proof Moat 135 7. Ragnar Lodbrok and the Vikings 140 The Cheval-de-frise 148 The Hourglass Watchtower 153 8. Conclusion 168 Notes 171 Selected Bibliography 173 Index 174 Back Cover 178 A man's home is his castle, or so the saying goes, but could it withstand an attack by Attila and the Huns, Ragnar and the Vikings, Alexander and the Greeks, Genghis Khan and the Mongols, or Tamerlane and the Tartars? Backyard Ballistics author William Gurstelle poses this fascinating question to modern-day garage warriors and shows them how to build an arsenal of ancient artillery and fortifications aimed at withstanding these invading hordes. Each chapter introduces a new bad actor in the history of warfare, details his conquests, and features weapons and fortifications to defend against him and his minions. Clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build a dozen projects, including "Da Vinci's Catapult," "Carpini's Crossbow," a "Crusader-Proof Moat," "Alexander's Tortoise," and the "Cheval-de-frise." With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind many of the projects, and shows where to buy the materials. By the time they've reached the last page, at-home defenders everywhere will have succeeded in creating a fully fortified home.-- Provided by publisher