A History of the World in 100 Weapons

by Chris McNab

Overview

The story of the 100 most influential weapons in history.

Our history has been shaped and changed by weapons: the smallest advances in weapons development have helped to build and overthrow empires, changed the course of civilization, driven modern technology, and won wars.

For thousands of years, individual pieces of weaponry have come to symbolize struggles and nations, from the Roman gladius to the English longbow, and from the flintlock musket through to the AK47.

This book reveals the weapons that had the greatest impact on our history, explaining how and why they came to prominence, and uncovers the lasting effect they had on the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472808325
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	04/20/2014
Series:	General Military
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	71 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Chris McNab is an author and editor specializing in military history and military technology. To date he has published more than 40 books, including A History of the World in 100 Weapons (2011), Deadly Force (2009) and Tools of Violence (2008). He is the contributing editor of Hitler's Armies: A History of the German War Machine 1939–45 (2011) and Armies of the Napoleonic Wars (2009). Chris has also written extensively for major encyclopedia series, magazines and newspapers, and he lives in South Wales, UK.

Andrew Roberts is the author of Masters and Commanders: How Four Titans Won the War in the West (which won the International Churchill Society Book Award) and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples since 1900 (which won the Intercollegiate Studies Institute Book Award). His latest book, The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War, won the British Army Military Book of the Year for 2010. He holds a PhD in History from Cambridge University.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Ancient World: 5000 BC–AD 500
The Medieval World: 500–1500
The Early Modern World: 1500–1800
Imperial Wars: 1800–1914
World War I: 1914–18
World War II: 1939–45
Modern Warfare: 1945–Present

Editorial Reviews

This splendid romp through the history of warfare can be recommended as both fun and thought-provoking.” —Military Times

“This book would be a very handy reference for anyone who wishes to quickly look up everything from the English longbow to various types of swords, the flintlock musket, aircraft and ballistic missiles. The reader will not only find a wealth of nuts and bolts details, but also concise accounts of how each weapon revolutionized warfare and impacted the course of history.” —Toy Soldier & Model Figure magazine

“The fascination of of [this book] lies in how human ingenuity has learned from past achievements going back centuries to deliver destructive power ever more efficiently. This enlightening book, cleverly focused on just 100 weapons, is able to provide full detail, offering a clear and vivid history.” —www.SirReadaLot.org

“McNab delivers both an engaging and easy read for anyone interested in military history.” —Rachel E. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com

“Author and military historian Chris McNab leads readers on a thrilling (albeit gut-wrenching) trail up the Mountain of Warfare... Facets of long-unused forging methods are brought back to life in a way that could even distract middle-schoolers away from their smartphones, for each weapon's tale is related much in the fashion of sitting at one's grandfather's knee, listening to dark tales of the trenches (sans embellishment).” —Meredith Greene, San Francisco Book Review

“Any serious military strategy collection must have this [book].” —The Midwest Book Review

“A very engrossing read ... I give this book my highest recommendation.” —Ken McDevitt, IPMS/USA

From the Publisher