WEAPONS AND WARFARE IN RENAISSANCE EUROPE

2-48150

One of the best on the era from the 100 Years' War to the 30 Years' War, it is particularly strong on the development of gunpowder weapons. Explores the history of gunpowder in Europe from the 13th century, when it was first imported from China, to the 16th century, as firearms became central to the conduct of war. Bridging the fields of military history and the history of technology -- and challenging past assumptions about Europe's 'gunpowder revolution.' Military inventors faced a host of challenges from Europe's lack of naturally occurring saltpeter -- one of gunpowder's major components -- to the limitations of smooth-bore firearms. Includes b/w illustrations, bibliography, and index.