So one thing that’s always bothered me is how people used to construct rope bridges across large cliffs without machines or modern technology. I could imagine people nowadays using harnesses and such, but how would they even get the rope from one side of the cliff to the other? Would greatly appreciate any insight on how they used to do this!
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You use a bow and arrow to fire a string to a helper on the other side. Then you use the string to drag a line across the gap. Then you use the line to drag a rope across the gap.
With the rope taut across the gap, you can use a pair of pulleys to carry more ropes over, four is a good number. Then you put boards between the bottom ropes and lines between the upper ropes and their bottom rope to make a rope bridge U.
That probably depends very much on the specifics of each location. Usually you take a thin lightweight rope to the other side, than use it to tow a thicker rope tk the other side and use that one to tow the actual rope bridge across the cliff.
For the thin rope you can take a climber wo carries it to the other side or use an arrow to shoot it over the gap.
> I could imagine people nowadays using harnesses and such, but how would they even get the rope from one side of the cliff to the other?
For big gaps you would use a powerful crossbow or [arbalest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbalest) and then follow the steps WRSaunders outlined. Small rope, big rope, bigger ropes and so on. Eventually you can make even fixed bridges this way by using solid pieces over time, but for a rope bridge it is quite easy.
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