Customer Reviews

Firearms: A Global History to 1700

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I usually don't go for history books that deal with the time period of Chase's book. But this book is the exception to that rule. Chase's expertise comes from simply being interested in the topic. He's not even a "professional historian" i.e. someone who gets paid to write books like this. He is in fact an attorney who just had an interest in how nomads and firearms are connected and why it was that Europe perfected firearms when it was Asia, specifically China, that invented them. He takes the reader through a huge span of history and through several sections of what he refers to as "the Oikoumene", or that which encompasses Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and some other small areas. Chase methodically explains the evolution and application of firearms and gives historical context for both his ideas and his explanations. This was a great read, and since I am very interested in military history, this book filled in the majority of the pieces missing in my understanding of early-modern military history. Mr. Chase, I'd just ask you one favor: write another book so I can buy it and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed this one.

This small tome is well-written and quite erudite, but _desperately_ needs illustrations of the actual firearms! There is only *one* image of a specific firearm, and it is merely a simple line-drawn schematic. The very few other illustrations are just "fillers".

The book could and should have been so much more. Still, the high quality of the text and the research is enough for any firearms enthusiast and/or historian to add it to their collection.

If you like the work of William McNeill and Jared Diamond this book is for you. While it succinctly tells the story of firearms themselves up to 1700, it is really about how how and why they had very different impacts in different physical settings, and how they and their settings interacted to do so much to shape the world of today. Some books I read and forget, but this one I return to for fresh insights.

Great read, but not for fun. In reading this book I learned a lot about the history of firearms and development of a new tyoe of warfare. I would have given it 5 stars but for the simple fact it wasn't the easiest read. Don't get me wrong I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it wasn't a difficult read, but as with any non-fiction it isn't something you take to the beach. It requires thought - and it is well worth it.

For the record, I came in to this novel with very little background knowledge regarding the history of Asia, but that did not hinder me. Buy it, read it and learn.