New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Jeremy Black, "A History of Artillery" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023)
Dec 29, 2025
Jeremy Black, Professor emeritus of history and military historian, dives into his book A History of Artillery. He explores the evolution of artillery from ancient catapults to its decisive roles in conflicts like WWI and WWII. Black argues against simplistic explanations, emphasizing the complex interplay of technology and tactics. He highlights how artillery has shaped battle outcomes, especially in the Cold War and recent conflicts such as in Ukraine. Black's insights illuminate the weapon's ongoing significance in military strategy.
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Reject The Magic-Bullet View
- Jeremy Black argues against a 'magic bullet' view of military history and technology.
- He urges studying artillery in context with logistics, operations, and opposing forces.
Artillery In Early Sieges
- Jeremy Black cites Ottoman sieges like Constantinople (1453) where heavy cannon breached walls.
- He stresses artillery aided sieges but did not alone decide outcomes due to infantry and willingness to take casualties.
Technical Limits Slowed Cannon Adoption
- Early cannon faced severe production and operational constraints like forging seams, heat, and powder reliability.
- Those technical limits delayed artillery's dominance despite its destructive potential.