The term artillery refers to any mounted gun or weapon that discharges missiles. The first example of artillery can be traced back to the Stone Age when there is evidence that prehistoric people used slings (probably made of animal hides or vines) to hurl rocks at prey. Another form of primitive artillery, the bow and arrow, was first used widely by the ancient Egyptians around 5000 b.c.

During the Middle Ages, catapults were used to attack walled cities and castles. Catapults operate on the same basic premise as bows and slings; each consists of a large arm that is restrained with a trigger mechanism. When the mechanism is released, the arm flings forward, hurling its ammunition at the target. Early catapults were capable of projecting a 180 lb (82 kg) shot up to 650 ft (198 m) away.

Probably the best known type of artillery is the cannon, or "firetube," which first...