A trebuchet (French trébuchet) is a siege engine that was employed in the Middle Ages. It is sometimes called a "counterweight trebuchet" or "counterpoise trebuchet" in order to distinguish it from an earlier weapon that has come to be called the "traction trebuchet", the original version with pulling men instead of a counterweight. The counterweight trebuchet appeared in both Christian and Muslim lands around the Mediterranean in the twelfth century. It could fling projectiles of up to three hundred and fifty pounds (140 kg) at high speeds into enemy fortifications.

The trebuchet did not become obsolete until the 15th century, well after the introduction of gunpowder, which appeared in Europe in second half of 13th century.

A trebuchet is a type of catapult that works by using the energy of a raised counterweight to throw the projectile. Initially, the sling, which has a pouch containing the projectile, is placed in a trough below the axle, which supports the beam. Upon releasing the trigger, the sling and the beam swing around toward the vertical position, where one end of the sling releases, opening the pouch and propelling the projectile towards the target. The stored energy of the counterweight is transferred efficiently to the projectile.

Daniel Robert Snow (born 3 December 1978) is an English television presenter. He has presented and appeared in many popular history-related programmes for the BBC and is the "History Hunter" for The One Show.

Dan Snow is the youngest son of Peter Snow, BBC television journalist, and Ann MacMillan, Managing Editor of CBC London Bureau. Dan therefore has joint British/Canadian citizenship. Through his mother, he is the nephew of Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan, and a great-great-grandson of British Prime Minister David Lloyd George. One of his father's cousins is the Channel 4 news reporter Jon Snow.

Snow was educated at Barnes Primary School and St Paul's School, an independent school in Barnes in south London, where he was Captain of the School, followed by Balliol College at Oxford. He rowed three times in the University Boat Race, winning in 2000 and losing a controversial race, when president, in 2001. He received a double first-class honours degree in Modern History.

In 2003, Snow and his father made a programme on El Alamein to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the battles and followed this up with an eight-part series on BBC2 in 2004 called Battlefield Britain. This won a BAFTA award for special effects. The same year Snow won a Sony award as one of the presenters on LBC Boat Race coverage.