Humans were born armed. Before Homo sapiens first walked the Earth,
proto-humans had manufactured spears and other tools not only to
hunt and defend themselves but also to attack other humans. The war
instinct is part of human nature, but the means to fight war depend
on technology. Politics, economics, ideology, culture, strategy,
tactics, and philosophy have all shaped war, but none of these
factors has driven the evolution of warfare as much as technology.
Expanding on this compelling thesis, this book traces the
co-evolution of technology and war from the Stone Age to the age of
cyberwar and nanotechnology. Alex Roland shines a light on the
patterns of interaction between technology and warfare, describing
the sensational inventions that changed the direction of war
throughout history: fortified walls, the chariot, swift and nimble
battleships, the gunpowder revolution, and finally aircraft,
bombers, rockets, submarines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs),
and nuclear weapons. In the twenty-first century, scientific and
engineering research is constantly transforming war and
simultaneously producing countless technological innovations. Yet
even now, the newest and best technology cannot guarantee victory.
Rather, technology and warfare remain in a timeless dialectic,
spurring change without ever stabilizing a military balance of
power. New technologies continue to push warfare in unexpected
directions, while warfare pulls technology into new stunning
possibilities. In an era of computers, drones, and robotic systems,
Roland reminds us that, although military technologies keep
changing at a precipitous speed, the principles and patterns behind
them abide. Brimming with dramatic narratives of battles and deep
insights into military psychology, this Very Short Introduction is
ultimately an original account of human history seen through the
kaleidoscopic lens of war technology. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very
Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains
hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized
books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly.
Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas,
and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly
readable.
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