Turning Points in Military History
William R. Weir
$16.95
Softcover, 298 pages
In this thought-provoking, exhaustively researched book, noted military historian William R. Weir reveals the stunning leaps of martial imagination that redefined combat and conquest, from the first sharpened sticks of our ancestors to the shock and awe of today's satellite-guided weaponry. Gaze out from the massive stone fortifications of a European castle, bear witness as gunpowder weaponry ends the samurai age, and board a modern aircraft carrier that projects a nation's might worldwide. Pivotal moments in military history come brilliantly alive with photos and illustrations that complement fascinating insights into the social, technological, and even religious underpinnings behind each development:
From stone to steel—the arms race begins in the cave
The birth of standing armies—religious fervor and nationalism spur conscription
Limited warfare—economy and maneuver trump brute force
Breech-loading and repeating rifles—gun warfare comes of age
Fortifications—and their nemesis, siege artillery
Mobilization—combat according to the railroad timetable
Blitzkrieg—the “lightning war” and the rise of the tank
Modern navies—power projection goes worldwide
Submarines—war beneath the waves
Air power—military formations and civilian cities bear the brunt of attacks from above
Smart weapons—precision munitions for more discriminating destruction
"Guerilla," or asymmetrical warfare—the modern dilemma
These and other landmark moments in the history of armed conflict combine to create this compelling analysis of how wars are made, won, and lost—and the technical and strategic challenges that are yet to be faced.
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