The Invention of the Longbow
The Invention of the Longbow — an illustrated inventions story, set in England. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.
Page 1
"Ravi, come look at this!" Ivan shouted, pointing at the small screen in his hand. Ravi, bundled in a thick winter coat, hurried over. "My great-great-something grandfather used to hunt caribou with... this? It looks like something from the Stone Age!" Ravi gasped, "Whoa! I wonder how people even communicated with that kind of weapon?"
Page 2
Ivan raced to his room, his worn leather notebook bouncing against his leg. Shelves overflowing with science books lined the walls, and a model rocket hung from the ceiling. "Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia, where are you?" he mumbled, scanning the shelves. He spotted the ancient, leather-bound book glowing faintly on the top shelf, then pulled it down.
Page 3
A blinding flash filled the room, swirling colors engulfing Ivan. He squeezed his eyes shut, clutching the encyclopedia tightly. When he opened them again, the familiar scent of pine and snow filled the air. He was no longer in his room, but in a clearing surrounded by towering trees draped with snow. "What in the world?!"
Page 4
A gruff voice interrupted his thoughts. "Oi! You there, lad! What are you doing wandering about in my woods?" A tall man emerged from the trees, clad in roughspun woolen clothing and carrying a longbow taller than Ivan. "I... I don't know! Where am I?" Ivan stammered, clutching his notebook.
Page 5
"You're in England, boy, and I am Erik. What's with the strange clothes? Never seen anything like it," Erik said, eyeing Ivan's sneakers with suspicion. "It's 1346. France thought they could take over our English lands. But we won the Battle of Crécy because of one thing: the longbow!" Ivan scribbled furiously in his notebook.
Page 6
"But why is the longbow so special?" Ivan asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. Erik grinned, then lifted the bow above his head. "Because with this weapon, a skilled archer can loose six arrows a minute, each with enough force to pierce plate armor! A crossbow? Maybe two shots per minute, and not nearly as powerful. Changed warfare forever it did!"
Page 7
"Amazing!" Ivan exclaimed, writing furiously. "But it's more than just a weapon, isn't it? It's about communication, about connecting people through skill and strategy!" Erik chuckled, "You're a bright one, lad. Old King Edward knew that. That's why he insisted every man practice with the longbow every Sunday. Made us a nation of archers!"
Page 8
Suddenly, Erik pointed into the forest. "Hark! Footsteps approaching; are those French scouts? Time to put this knowledge to use, young scholar!" Ivan looked nervously at Erik, but Erik reassured him. He stated, "As the great Leonardo da Vinci said, 'I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.' We must use all the tools available to communicate the value of the longbow to our people, even with danger looming."
Page 9
The world began to spin, the trees blurring into streaks of green and white. "I have to go!" Ivan cried, clutching his notebook. Erik clapped him on the shoulder. "Go on, lad! Tell them about the longbow! Tell them how it changed everything!"
Page 10
Ivan tumbled back into his room, the encyclopedia thudding onto his desk. He grabbed Ravi's arm. "Ravi! You won't believe this! The longbow! It wasn't just a weapon; it was a revolution! It changed how wars were fought, and how people connected!" He grinned, "And it all started right here in Europe, generating over 1 million in revenue for the English Crown!"
About this story
- Location: England
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
Read Wonder Inventions on your phone
Wonder Inventions is available on Android. Get Wonder Inventions on Google Play.