Read Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression

Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression

Robert L. O'Connell

4.9/5 (21416 ratings)

Description:The appearance of the crossbow on the European battle field in A.D. 1100 as the weapon of choice for shooting down knights threatened the status quo of medieval chivalric fighting techniques. By 1139 the Church had intervened, outlawing the use of the crossbow among Christians. With this edict, arms control was born.As Robert L. O'Connell reveals in this vividly written history of weapons in Western culture, that first attempt at an arms control measure characterizes the complex and often paradoxical relationship between men and arms throughout the centuries. In a sweeping narrative that ranges from prehistoric times to the nuclear age, O'Connell demonstrates how social and economic conditions determine the types of weapons and the tactics used in warfare and how, in turn, innovations in weapons technology often undercut social values. He describes, for instance, how the invention of the gun required a redefinition of courage from aggressive ferocity to calmness under fire; and how the machine gun in World War I so overthrew traditional notions of combat that Lord Kitchener exclaimed, "This isn't war!" The technology unleashed during the Great War radically altered our perceptions of ourselves, as these new weapons made human qualities almost irrelevant in combat. With the invention ofthe atomic bomb, humanity itself became subservient to the weapons it had produced.Of Arms and Men brilliantly integrates the evolution of politics, weapons, strategy, and tactics into a coherent narrative, one spiced with striking portraits of men in combat and penetrating insights into why men go to war.We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression. To get started finding Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

Pages: 345

Format: PDF, EPUB & Kindle Edition

Publisher: —

Release: —

ISBN: 0195053605

Description: The appearance of the crossbow on the European battle field in A.D. 1100 as the weapon of choice for shooting down knights threatened the status quo of medieval chivalric fighting techniques. By 1139 the Church had intervened, outlawing the use of the crossbow among Christians. With this edict, arms control was born.As Robert L. O'Connell reveals in this vividly written history of weapons in Western culture, that first attempt at an arms control measure characterizes the complex and often paradoxical relationship between men and arms throughout the centuries. In a sweeping narrative that ranges from prehistoric times to the nuclear age, O'Connell demonstrates how social and economic conditions determine the types of weapons and the tactics used in warfare and how, in turn, innovations in weapons technology often undercut social values. He describes, for instance, how the invention of the gun required a redefinition of courage from aggressive ferocity to calmness under fire; and how the machine gun in World War I so overthrew traditional notions of combat that Lord Kitchener exclaimed, "This isn't war!" The technology unleashed during the Great War radically altered our perceptions of ourselves, as these new weapons made human qualities almost irrelevant in combat. With the invention ofthe atomic bomb, humanity itself became subservient to the weapons it had produced.Of Arms and Men brilliantly integrates the evolution of politics, weapons, strategy, and tactics into a coherent narrative, one spiced with striking portraits of men in combat and penetrating insights into why men go to war.We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression. To get started finding Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

Special Offer | $0.00

Special Offer! | $0.00

Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression

Of Arms and Men: A History of War, Weapons, and Aggression

More Books

The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic

The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic

Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman

Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman

Team America: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the World They Forged – A Biography of Four Military Leaders Who Saved the Free World

Team America: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the World They Forged – A Biography of Four Military Leaders Who Saved the Free World

Revolutionary: George Washington at War

Revolutionary: George Washington at War

Summary & Study Guide The Ghosts of Cannae by Robert L. O'Connell

Summary & Study Guide The Ghosts of Cannae by Robert L. O'Connell

Sacred Vessels: The Cult of the Battleship and the Rise of the U.S. Navy by Robert L. O'Connell (1991-11-01)

Sacred Vessels: The Cult of the Battleship and the Rise of the U.S. Navy by Robert L. O'Connell (1991-11-01)

Summary Of Team America: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the world they forged by Robert L. O'Connell

Summary Of Team America: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the world they forged by Robert L. O'Connell

Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman by Robert L. O'Connell (2015-05-26)

Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman by Robert L. O'Connell (2015-05-26)

Soul of the Sword: An Illustrated History of Weaponry and Warfare from Prehistory to the Present

Soul of the Sword: An Illustrated History of Weaponry and Warfare from Prehistory to the Present