Projectile weapons were invented for the simple reason that the closer you are to the enemy, the easier it is for them to kill you.
since nothing spoils the day like bleeding to death from a sword in the face, it is much preferred to see your enemy bleeding to death before they can reach you.
and so, the projectile weapon was invented....
Catepult
All well known projectile weapons were used before Middle age. Bows and crosbows were used in ancient China, Greece, Roman Empire.... Masive use of crosbow and later firearms in the Middle age time was end of classical chivalry and knights.
cavemen.
Medieval Projectile weapons were created so that a standard infanrty untit could engage the enemy at increasing ranges, the medieval longbow was one of such weapon, it was a fairly cheap weapon to produce since all it consisted of was a peice of yew wood, horse tail and sometimes animal horn, it was also the birth of a weapon that did not require huge amounts of practice, sure the longbow required a pulling strength of around 180lbs but it paved the way for modern projectile weapons today.
Darts probably originate from projectile weapons, used by the Romans.
Swords, shields and spears were common weapons of Medieval Warfare.
The Medieval Flail was invented by a human
ofcause hands!
People who lived in castles during the medieval times used them for attacking other castles and forcing them to surrender.
Any kind of weapons.
They got their weapons, because they had black smiths
knights