Editing Sling (weapon) (section)

== The sling in medieval period ==

=== Europe ===
The [[Bayeux Tapestry]] of the 1070s portrays the use of slings in a hunting context. [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor]] employed slingers during the [[Siege of Tortona]] in 1155 to suppress the garrison while his own men built [[siege engine]]s.{{sfn|Bradbury|1992|p=89}} Indeed, slings seem to have been a fairly common weapon in Italy during the 11th and 12th centuries.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Paul |title=Norman Warfare in the Eleventh and Twelfth-Century Mediterranean |year=2016}}</ref> Slings were also used by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]].<ref>Haldon, John F. (1999): "Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565-1204, p. 216</ref> On the [[Iberian Peninsula]], the Spanish and Portuguese infantry favoured it against light and agile Moorish troops. The staff sling continued to be used in sieges and the sling was used as a part of [[Trebuchet|large siege engines]].{{sfn|Bradbury|1992|p=262}}

=== The Americas ===
[[File:Andean sling 01.jpg|thumb|right|A South American sling made of [[alpaca]] hair]]

The sling was known throughout the Americas.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Chumash Sling |work=ABOtech.com |author=Paul Campbell |url=http://www.abotech.com/Articles/Campbell02.htm |access-date=16 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608031819/http://abotech.com/Articles/Campbell02.htm |archive-date=8 June 2007 }}</ref>

In ancient Andean civilizations such as the [[Inca Empire]], slings were made from llama wool. These slings typically have a cradle that is long and thin and features a relatively long slit. Andean slings were constructed from contrasting colours of wool; complex braids and fine workmanship can result in beautiful patterns. Ceremonial slings were also made; these were large, non-functional and generally lacked a slit. To this day, ceremonial slings are used in parts of the Andes as accessories in dances and in mock battles. They are also used by llama herders; the animals will move away from the sound of a stone landing. The stones are not slung to hit the animals, but to persuade them to move in the desired direction.

The sling was also used in the Americas for hunting and warfare. One notable use was in Incan resistance against the [[conquistador]]s. These slings were apparently very powerful; in ''[[1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus]]'', author [[Charles C. Mann]] quoted a conquistador as saying that an Incan sling "could break a sword in two pieces" and "kill a horse".<ref>Mann, pg. 84.</ref> Some 
slings spanned as much as {{convert|86|in|m|1|order=flip|sp=us}} long and weighed an impressive {{convert|14.4|oz|g|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flight-toys.com/slings.htm|title=Slings from Peru and Bolivia|publisher=Flight-toys.com |date=2010-02-18 |access-date=2010-09-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| title = Slings in the Iron Age| author = Jane Penrose| date = 10 October 2005| publisher = Bloomsbury USA| isbn = 9781841769325| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=99haLasvV3gC&q=iron+helmet+sling&pg=PA139| access-date = 30 June 2010}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Guam ===
Unique amongst most Pacific Islanders, the [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]] reached a terrific competency with a weapon as witness by 17th century Belgian [[missionary]], Pedro Coomans:

"Their offensive weapons include the sling, which they aim very skillfully at the head. Out of small ropes they weave a sort of net-bag, in which to carry stones with an oblong shape, some formed out of a marble stone, and others of clay, hardened in either the sun or fire. They whirl and shoot those so violently. Should it make an impact upon a more delicate part, like the heart, or the head, the man is flattened on the spot. Then, if envy would make them want to burn a house from a distance, they would stuff the perforated side of it with tow burning with a very ferocious fire, which, with a swift movement became a flame, and sail away to seek shelter in enemy houses."<ref name="» Slingstones">{{cite web | url=https://www.guampedia.com/slingstones/ | title=» Slingstones | date=29 September 2009 }}</ref>

The sling stone (in its "almond"/ovoid shape) is a vital cultural artifact of Chamorro culture, enough so, that it was adopted for the Guamian flag and state seal.<ref name="» Slingstones"/>