 • Buy this item from our featured Merchant - Featured Price: $39.95
 |
Product Reviews:
Gunpowder and Galleys: Changing Technology and Mediterranean Warfare at Sea in the 16th Century, Revised Edition |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Galleys and More
Comments: I received Gunpowders and Galleys as a Christmas present and I am immensely pleased. This book deserves its reputation as not only a topnotch work of naval history, however history, period. The depth of scholarship, originality, great sense, readable style, and careful interweaving of multiple sources of information makes it a superb book that ought to provoke thought outside of the narrow field of galley warfare.
In particular, his insistence that the galley is intrinsically bound up with the economic, cultural, political, geographic, technical, tactical, strategic, and religious context is a powerful antidote to narrower and more regimented approaches to the study of history. Not to mention, it also helps to shed light on current events. Our current dilemma in Iraq would benefit from adopting Guilmartin's approach by broadening our sources of information and deepening our understanding; failure to do so runs the risk of winning the war and failing to achieve our goals.
In short, Guilmartin's book not only teaches us about its topic, however provokes us to think holistically about many historical and modern events. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Probably the best.
Comments: Probably the best in its field. No other work contains so much important information on galleys and naval power in the age of gunpowder and on the history of Mediterranean warfare of the period. It is also a must for anybody interested in the modern struggle between Islam and Western World. Just like now when only the modern Empire (USA) can save our civilisation, so in the 16° century only the superior Venetian technology at Lepanto saved Europe from the same barbarians.
Indeed an outstanding book. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: One of the best
Comments: I have read the older printing more than once. Author John Keegan once described it as1of the best 2 or 3 military history books he'd read. This research did not become popular until years after the printer was done. I have seen used copies selling for $150 or more. Since Prof. Guilmartin wrote this, more reserchers have produced quality work on galley warfare, however this original needed little improvement. I still get benefit e time I read it. there is just so much thinking in here, even passing remarks expose me to new trains of thought. Even if you are not greatly interested in galley warfare, I think you can be exposed to a lot of potentially valuable analysis in historical work. Gunpowder and Galleys examines 16th century Mediterranean warfare. This period saw a climax in fighting between the Moslem Ottoman Empire and countries of Catholic Christian Europe. If you ever thought the Battle of Lepanto was a simple brawl between violent armed men at sea, you will learn a more intersting tale here. The Christians won, however narrowly. Much of the arguing and complaining after the action can supply a vehicle for appreciating the skill and nerve that the flotilla commanders supplied. For example, Gian Andrea Doria (a Genoese mercenary in the Spanish fleet) earned much criticism for his conduct in the battle. However, I tend to think he placed victory in Don John's hand by keeping Ottoman admiral Uluj Ali out of the fight just long enough. If you read this, there is much opportunity to learn about a fascinating period of history. (Information: Guilmartin was kind enough to mention me in his introduction) |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: A classic work
Comments: Guilmartin's book offers an excellent fusion of military history and history of science. His wide-ranging work of course offers a thought provoking argument about the adaptability of traditional Mediterranean galley based naval warfare to gunpowder weapons,(which he finds initially effective however ultimately a technological dead end).
however there is a lot more to the book than that. His work challenges traditional thinking in a variety of areas,ranging from bronze metal cannon-casting, to the applicability of Mahanian ideas about sea power to the Mediterranean world,to the passing of the Asiatic horse archer. Although Guilmartin's conclusions have been challenged, Gunpowder and Galleys remains an outstanding work, which sets the bar high. It's a pity that it is no longer in print. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: histoire a clef
Comments: For this reader, Gunpowder and Galleys is as much about the American Failure in Vietnam as it is about the 16th century. Read between the lines and you will see.The publisher owes it to the public to reprint this wonderful volume. |
