Ebook: Instruments of war: weapons and technologies that have changed history

This reference work provides a fascinating overview of the major weapon systems and military technologies that have had a major impact on world history. Addressing weapons as crude as the club used by primitive man to the high-tech weapons of today such as unmanned drones, Instruments of War: Weapons and Technologies That Have Changed History offers illustrated entries that examine the key roles played by specific weapons and identify their success and failures.;Introduction -- Instruments of war: Club and mace -- Ax -- Sling -- Spears and other pole arms -- Pilum -- Throwing sticks or throwing clubs -- Picks and war hammers -- Dagger (knife) -- Sword -- Lance -- Bow and arrow -- Blowgun -- Shields -- Helmet -- Body armor -- Chariot -- Galley -- Trireme -- Corvus -- Greek Fire -- Mechanical artillery -- Spring-powered artillery engines -- Torsion-powered artillery engines -- Counterweight-powered artillery engines -- Saddle -- Stirrup -- Viking longboat -- Caltrop -- Gunpowder -- Land mines and mining -- Longbow -- Crossbow -- Harquebus -- Matchlock -- Wheel lock -- Snaplock (Snaphance) -- Pistols, Early types -- Land artillery, Early gunpowder types -- Leather gun -- Fuzes -- Petard -- Pike -- Carrack -- Galleon -- Naval artillery, Early types -- Gunner's quadrant -- Turtle ships -- Frigate -- Ship of the line -- Mortars, Early -- Bomb vessels -- Howitzer -- Shell -- Shrapnel (spherical case shot) -- Carcass -- Case shot (canister or canister shot) -- Grapeshot -- Flintlock -- Air gun -- Rifle (muzzle-loader) -- Blunderbuss -- Bayonet -- Turtle submarine -- Sea mines -- Balloons -- Popham's signal system -- Steam warship -- Percussion cap -- Rockets, Early types -- Carronade -- Shell gun -- Railroads -- Telegraph -- Telephone -- Ironclad warships -- Warrior, HMS -- Naval Gun Turret -- Monitor, USS -- Minié Ball -- Revolver -- Napoleon gun -- Parrott guns -- Dahlgren guns -- Breech-loading rifle.