Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5: Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 7, Military Technology: The Gunpowder Epic (Hardcover)

by Joseph Needham (Author), Ho Ping-Yü (Contributor), Lu Gwei-Djen (Contributor), Wang Ling (Contributor) "The development of gunpowder was certainly one of the greatest achievements of the medieval Chinese world..." (more)
Key Phrases: military compendia, phu hsiao, tun phao, Huo Lung Ching, Greek Fire, Pei Chih (more...)

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Product Description
The Gunpowder Epic is one of three planned publications on military technology within Dr Needham's immense undertaking. The discovery of gunpowder in China by the 9th century AD was followed by its rapid applications. It is now clear that the whole development from bombs and grenades to the invention of the metal-barrel hand gun took place in the Chinese culture area before Europeans had any knowledge of the mixture itself. Uses in civil engineering and mechanical engineering were equally important, before the knowledge of gunpowder spread to Europe in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Dr Needham's new work continues to demonstrate the major importance of Chinese science and technology to world history and maintains the tradition of one of the great scholarly works of the twentieth century.

• Hardcover: 742 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (February 27, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521303583
• ISBN-13: 978-0521303583
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
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• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #395,960 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  
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• In-Print Editions: Hardcover  |  All Editions