Weapons: A Pictorial History

Front Cover
JHU Press, 1954 - 152 pages

Weapons is the rich and exciting story of arms through the ages—from the first tied stone thrown by prehistoric hunters to the super bombs of today. Illustrated with the unusually detailed and astonishingly realistic drawings of Edwin Tunis, it is a weapon-by-weapon account of human ingenuity in the invention and improvement of arms for defense and offense. The detailed and engaging text is filled with useful information and anecdotes that bring history to life.

Tunis begins with the Stone Age, describing its slings and spears, its axes and bows and arrows, and follows developments through to the Copper and Bronze Ages when chariots, swords, and daggers were first produced. He chronicles the advances of the Iron Age, with its stronger swords, helmets, and complicated siege weapons and describes the changing notions of war throughout the ages. From the highly fortified castles of the Normans to the thermonuclear weapons of today, this remarkable history weapons and the warriors who used them is a treasure trove of lore and information.

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Contents

Section 1
38
Section 2
70
Section 3
75
Section 4
91
Section 5
116
Section 6
131
Section 7
146
Section 8
151
Copyright

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About the author (1954)

Edwin Tunis (1897–1973) was born in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, and spent much of his life in Maryland. A well-known artist, illustrator, and muralist, his work appeared at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Society of American Etchers, the National Academy of Design, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. His other books include Colonial Craftsmen; Colonial Living; Weapons; Oars, Sails and Steam; and The Tavern at the Ferry, all available in paperback from Johns Hopkins.

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