"One of the clearest, classic triumphs of technology over tyranny I see is the invention of the man-portable crossbow. With it, an untrained peasant could now reliably and lethally engage a target out to fifty meters – even if that target were a mounted, chain-mailed knight" That's another, clear, shining example of unhinged delusional garbage from hammill. Anybody with 2 brain cells can make the following observations : 1) crossbows, line any other weapon can be used by ANYONE. Meaning, the merchants and manufacturers used crossbows to exterminate the peasants who tried to oppose. 2) ...'knights' used crossbows to exterminate peasants, too. Knights working for merchants and manufacturers. 3) peasants, pretty much by definition, couldn't afford crossbows. 4) crossbows are MORE EXPENSIVE than simple bows. They are indeed yet another perfect example of a more complex tool that shifts the balance of power to FUCKING TECHNOCRATS. 5) crossbows are easier to use than ordinary bows. That advantage is irrelvant as far as balance of power goes. It simply means that now GOVCORP ARMIES HAVE BETTER WEAPONS. "an untrained peasant could now reliably and lethally engage a target out to fifty meters" exactly like a govcorp agent could. Except, the peasant didn't have a crossbow.