First published 2009
William McNeill examines a thousand years of military transformation and technological change. He starts with the crossbow, which the Church prohibited Christians from using against each other in 1139 because of its deadly effectiveness. McNeill argues that an eleventh century commercial revolution fundamentally altered how warfare operated. Military forces began responding to market pressures alongside traditional ruler commands. He tracks this shift through centuries of conflict, from the social impacts of military drill in the 1600s to the rise of the military-industrial complex in the 1900s. McNeill draws connections across European, Chinese, and Islamic societies. He shows how economic forces increasingly shaped military technology and organization. The book suggests that only recently have command economies started replacing market control over large scale human activities. McNeill offers perspective on contemporary fears about warfare and technology without providing simple solutions to current problems.
Genres: history, non-fiction, military-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-perspective, interdisciplinary-approach
Period: 11th Century, 1600s, 1900s
420 pages · Hardcover · ACLS Humanities E-Book Project