First published 1990
O'Connell traces the intricate dance between weapons and society from prehistoric times through the nuclear era. When crossbows appeared on European battlefields in 1100, they threatened knightly combat so severely that the Church prohibited their use among Christians by 1139. This marked the birth of arms control. The author demonstrates how social and economic forces shape military technology, while new weapons simultaneously transform cultural values. Gunpowder redefined courage from wild aggression to steady nerves under fire. Machine guns during World War I so violated traditional combat that Lord Kitchener declared it wasn't war at all. The Great War's technology diminished human relevance in battle. With atomic weapons, humanity became subordinate to its own creations. O'Connell weaves together politics, weaponry, strategy, and tactics into a unified story, enriched with vivid combat portraits and sharp analysis of warfare's motivations.
Genres: history, 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-non-fiction, social-commentary
Period: Prehistoric, Nuclear Era
345 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press