May 252013
Military History Book (Dk General History)
Stand to attention for the definitive visual guide to 5,000 years of military history “The Military History Book” chronicles the changing technology and tactics of war from 5,000 years ago to the present day in stunning visual detail. Bringing military history to life like never before, find out all about the battles, leaders and weapons of war that have changed the course of history and shaped the world. From the siege towers and catapults of ancient times to Samurai armour, Russian Kalashnikov
List Price: $ 134.99
Price: $ 31.12
Sumptuous Account of Military Weapons!,
A 2012 Smithsonian/DK release, MILITARY HISTORY is one gorgeous book. It traces the development of weapons of war from 3,000 B.C. to the present, spotlighting over 1,750 different clubs, swords, spears, helmets, suits of armor, crossbows, flintlocks, cannons, carbines, pistols, machine-guns, battleships, tanks, airplanes, grenades, radios, assault rifles, helos, submarines, missiles and other weapons.
A collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution, the U.K. Royal Armouries and various military experts, MILITARY HISTORY is much more than a catalog of weapons. The book balances its fabulous collection of full-color pix with concise, authoritative illustrated articles on military hardware and military warfare along with sidebars on Key Military Events and Figures.
The book is arranged chronologically with chapters entitled ‘Chariots and Swords,’ ‘Knights and Bowmen,’ ‘Pikes and Gunpowder,’ ‘Flintlock and Bayonet,’ ‘Industry and Imperialism,’ ‘The World War Wars’ and ‘The Nuclear Age.’ After a two-page introduction which includes a timeline, each chapter is broken down into two-page write-ups on key developments, weapons developments, individual battles, specific weapons and so on.
The ‘World Wars’ chapter, for example, includes 49 articles on such topics as ‘Key Development – Trench Warfare,’ ‘Uniforms and Equipment,’ ‘Heavy Machine-Guns,’ ‘Light Machine-Guns and Machine-Pistols,’ ‘World War I Defenses – Bayerwald Trench,’ ‘Trench Warfare – The Battle of Arras,’ ‘Key Development – The Growth of Air Power,’ ‘Fighter and Fighter-Bomber Aircraft 1939-1942,’ ‘Bombs and Missiles of World War II,’ ‘World War Era Medals,’ ‘Communications and Code-Breaking Equipment of World War II,’ ‘Air-Sea Combat – The Battle of Leyte Gulf,’ ‘World War II Armored Vehicles – T-34 Tank’ and ‘Nuclear Warfare – The Bombing of Nagasaki.’
Obviously the book’s biggest selling point is the illustrations and they’re top-notch. MILITARY HISTORY is a visual delight, eye candy for all military buffs. Each page has a number of b&w or color photographs, diagrams and illustrations along with two-page, full-color groupings of actual weapons or models, each photograph being accompanied by an informative caption. ‘Trench-Fighting Weapons,’ for instance, has a spread featuring three pistols, two grenades, a shotgun, a rifle with a wire-cutting attachment, an ax, three trench knives and two thoroughly nasty-looking spiked clubs! The ‘Capital Ships’ spread has full-color shots of models of HMS Dreadnought, SMS Derfflinger, HMS Queen Mary, HMS Rodney, Bismarck, USS North Carolina, Vittorio Veneto and Yamato and so on.
The sub-title states MILITARY HISTORY is THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE TO THE OBJECTS OF WARFARE. Not being a weapons expert, I can’t pass judgement on that claim but I was very impressed by the text and illustrations. It’s a tremendously appealing, entertaining and informative package. Recommended.
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|military history,
HERMOSO LIBRO,
EXELENTE CALIDAD,
ERA LO ESPERADO
realmente me encanto su contenido y presentacion.
su compaginacion es exelente
me gusta como ayuda al estudio
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|very good reference book,
Bought this for my adolescent son’s bday. 50% cheaper here than B&N. Great reference to supplement what he’s learning in history class.
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