Weapons and Warfare in Renaissance Europe: Gunpowder, Technology, and Tactics

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding.
Review: 1.000 words could be not enough to praise this book. Bert Hall produced a long needed work that will remain a foundation-stone in military technology of the black powder era.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding.
Review: 1.000 words could be not enough to praise this book. Bert Hall produced a long needed work that will remain a foundation-stone in military technology of the black powder era.

Rating:
Summary: technology and warfare
Review: Best treatment of weapons and Renaissance-era warfare !!

Rating:
Summary: Original thinking and excellent scholarship.
Review: It didn't take long for me to be pleasantly surprised at the high level of scholarship and clearly presented facts, the sort of writing all too often lacking from this area of history. As the author notes, many technology historians, military historians, and arms and armor writers propagate continuing myths and assumptions that can't be supported when the facts are examined closely. Here, Hall does the topic justice and it is clear he did his homework. The chapter discussing the technology of gunpowder was especially interesting, and supports his case for the reasons firearms developed as they did. I recommend a trip to the Metropolitan Museum in New York to have a look at their firearms, where many aspects of his discussion will further illuminate the items on display.

Rating:
Summary: Original thinking and excellent scholarship.
Review: It didn't take long for me to be pleasantly surprised at the high level of scholarship and clearly presented facts, the sort of writing all too often lacking from this area of history. As the author notes, many technology historians, military historians, and arms and armor writers propagate continuing myths and assumptions that can't be supported when the facts are examined closely. Here, Hall does the topic justice and it is clear he did his homework. The chapter discussing the technology of gunpowder was especially interesting, and supports his case for the reasons firearms developed as they did. I recommend a trip to the Metropolitan Museum in New York to have a look at their firearms, where many aspects of his discussion will further illuminate the items on display.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent combination of technology, society and tactics
Review: More than miltary buffs should read this book. Hall intertwines facets of technology and society to clarify how each can affect the other. Gunpowder did not sweep away the Middle Ages; the thought of the Middle Ages and Renaissance molded how and why gunpowder would be used. Hall makes the point that a new techology such as gunpowder does not dominate progress but is rather only an ingredient in a very complicated mix of elements.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent combination of technology, society and tactics
Review: More than miltary buffs should read this book. Hall intertwines facets of technology and society to clarify how each can affect the other. Gunpowder did not sweep away the Middle Ages; the thought of the Middle Ages and Renaissance molded how and why gunpowder would be used. Hall makes the point that a new techology such as gunpowder does not dominate progress but is rather only an ingredient in a very complicated mix of elements.

Rating:
Summary: The title should be: Gunpowder in Renaissance Land Warfare!
Review: This book presents a serious, unbiased and well documented view on gunpowder-technology origins and evolution and its real significance in medieval and Renaissance land warfare. However, only the projectile weapons have a good coverage, and warfare (and use of gunpowder) at sea is almost totally forgotten! If its title reflected its contents this book would get SIX stars from me.