The DOI matches its Crossref record, with a small difference in title or year.
Firearms: A Global History to 1700
Abstract
This book is a history of firearms across the world from the 1100s up to the 1700s, from their invention in China to the time when European firearms had become clearly superior. It asks why it was the Europeans who perfected firearms when it was the Chinese who had invented them, and answers this question by looking at how firearms were used throughout the world. Early firearms were restricted to infantry and siege warfare, limiting their use outside of Europe and Japan. Steppe and desert nomads imposed a different style of warfare on the Middle East, India, and China – a style with which firearms were incompatible. By the time that better firearms allowed these regions to turn the tables on the nomads, Japan's self-imposed isolation left Europe with no rival in firearms design, production, or use, with consequences that are still with us today.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“However, as shown above, Yi's argument is conditional: musketeers fail in open fields without reliance upon 'a fortress or rough geography.'”
From Big Heads and Buddhist Demons: The Korean Musketry Revolution and the Northern Expeditions of 1654 and 1658 (2014) · cites this paper as Chase 2003.
In the citing paper
“Chase argues that firearms development lagged in East Asia because early guns, due to their slow rate of fire and low accuracy, had little investment return when fired against nomadic cavalry.”
From Big Heads and Buddhist Demons: The Korean Musketry Revolution and the Northern Expeditions of 1654 and 1658 (2014) · cites this paper as Chase 2003, 1-23, 207-10.
Citations
Cites
Still being checked.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–200 of 222
Weapons Used Aboard Ming Chinese Ships and Some Thoughts on the Armament of Zheng He’s Fleet
Papelitzky, E. (2019) · China and Asia · doi:10.1163/2589465x-00102004 · Cited by 1
Warfare and Italian states, 1300–1500
Caferro, W. P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.015 · Cited by 1
Perron, A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.004 · Cited by 1
The Byzantine empire and the Balkans, 1204–1453
Bartusis, M. C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.017 · Cited by 1
Etnobiologi, Etnoekologi, dan Etnoarkeologi Karawang: Sebuah Kajian Komprehensif
Keim, A. P., Panggabean, S. M., Adi, T. R., Istiqomah, N., Akbar, F., Rahma, L. H., Nurrachadiana, C., Lugrayasa, I. N., Arifa, N., & Sujarwo, W. (2020) · Journal of Tropical Ethnobiology · doi:10.46359/jte.v3i2.41 · Cited by 1
Mauro, L. D. (2021) · SOCIETÀ E STORIA · doi:10.3280/ss2021-171002 · Cited by 1
Fortitudo et sapientia: la mirada cervantina en El oficio de las armas de Ermanno Olmi
Salmerón, E. M. R. (2016) · BOLETÍN DE LA BIBLIOTECA DE MENÉNDEZ PELAYO · doi:10.55422/bbmp.192 · Cited by 1
“That in the Reducciones Had Been Noise of Weapons …”
Wucherer, P. M. O. S. (2021) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003168058-15 · Cited by 1
Robinson, D. M. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197532768.003.0019 · Cited by 1
Migration and innovation in early modern Islamic societies. The case for firearms
Dewière, R. (2023) · History Compass · doi:10.1111/hic3.12762 · Cited by 1
May, T. (2023) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316337424.009 · Cited by 1
Cosmo, N. D. (2023) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316337424.021 · Cited by 1
The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and Its Non-Han Military Auxiliaries
Robinson, D. M. (2024) · China and Asia · doi:10.1163/2589465x-05020004 · Cited by 1
Singh, M., & Singh, M. R. (2024) · Journal of Applied Spectroscopy · doi:10.1007/s10812-024-01762-4 · Cited by 1
Ottoman Expansionism, 1300–1823
Uyar, M. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108788090.019 · Cited by 1
Hoffman, P. T. (2004) · CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) · Cited by 1
Ethridge, C. (2007) · Louisiana State University · doi:10.31390/gradschool_theses.3729 · Cited by 1
Revisiting the floppy-eared-rabbit serendipity circumstancePreprint
Nguyen, M., La, V., Le, T.-T., & Quy, K. V. (2022) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/2c3mx · Cited by 1
Preliminary explanations of serendipity based on non-linear information processPreprint
Le, T.-T., La, V., Quy, K. V., & Nguyen, M. (2022) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/u9m2p · Cited by 1
How do we perceive serendipity?Preprint
Khuc, Q. V. (2022) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/un89e · Cited by 1
Fissel, M. C. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/obo/9780199791279-0212 · Cited by 1
Fidalgo, D., Rodríguez, C. F., Ballesteros, D., Ordiz, A., de la Viuda, C. P., Cruz, J. A., García-Morato, S., & Martínez, E. F. (2025) · The Holocene · doi:10.1177/09596836251358475 · Cited by 1
Lorge, P. A. (2008) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511816598.003
Morillo, S. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118305492.ch25
Discovering War in Chinese History
Lorge, P. A. (2014) · Extrême-Orient Extrême-Occident · doi:10.4000/extremeorient.370
The American Rifled Musket: Technical Revolution or Tactical Redundancy?
Caillot, A. F. (2013) · Digital Commons - Colby (Colby College)
Rural Sports: The Poetry of Fishing, Fowling, and Hunting, 1650-1800
McKnight, P. D. (2011) · uO Research (University of Ottawa) · doi:10.20381/ruor-5504
Dafoe, A. (2006) · eCommons (Cornell University)
Andrade, T. (2016) · The Canadian Journal of Sociology · doi:10.29173/cjs25677
Historiography of technology and innovation
Headrick, D. R. (2015) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139194662.008
Lorge, P. A. (2008) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511816598.004
Allsen, T. T. (2015) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139194594.008
Singleton, J., & Clasper, J. C. (2016) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/med/9780199665549.003.0093
From Goose Drops to Spec Ops: A Pinfire Shotgun Shell from Fort York
Williams, B. (2016) · International Journal of Historical Archaeology · doi:10.1007/s10761-016-0375-0
Quality Management Systems That Serve the Subsea Oil & Gas Industries:
O'Donnell, V. (2016) · Open Science Journal · doi:10.23954/osj.v1i3.336
Black, J. (2011) · doi:10.1007/978-0-230-34415-0_2
The evolution of Asian cavalry tactics : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)
Bucher, T. Z. (2009) · Cardinal Scholar (Ball State University)
Wissen, Märkte und Kanonen. Europäische Militärexperten im Südasien der Frühen Neuzeit
Füssel, M. (2017) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666301223.217
Solecki, M. F. (2016) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/obo/9780199791279-0165
The Changing Contexts of Weapons Research
Forge, J. (2019) · SpringerBriefs in ethics · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16860-5_6
Jorge, E. C. (2018) · UVaDOC UVaDOC University of Valladolid Documentary Repository (University of Valladolid) · doi:10.35376/10324/36346
Las asimetrías del desempeño económico en América Latina y Asia Oriental: un análisis comparativo
Crespo, E., & Targino, B. M. (2019) · Estado & comunes · doi:10.37228/estado_comunes.v2.n9.2019.123
Introduction: The Moral Limits of Asymmetric Killing
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0001
Reciprocity and Just Conduct in War
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0005
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0008
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0007
Asymmetric Violence and the State of the Field
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0002
The Moral Challenge of Radical Asymmetry
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0003
Reciprocity and the Warrior Ethos
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0004
Graff, D. A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492
Wagoner, P. B. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.019
Curry, A. E., & Graff, D. A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.001
Lorge, P. A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.013
The reconquest and the Spanish monarchies
Kagay, D. J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.016
Justifications, theories, and customs of war
Morillo, S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.023
Curry, A. E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.014
Friday, K. F. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.009
Forging a Pure Military Identity: The Rise of Jurchen Heritage in Northeast Asia (15th–17th Century)
Ru, S. H. (2020) · Journal of Historical Sociology · doi:10.1111/johs.12294
Von der Kraft des Schwarzpulvers: Gunpowder in der Veterinärhomöopathie
Hentschel, B., & Seyfried, A.-L. (2020) · Zeitschrift für Ganzheitliche Tiermedizin · doi:10.1055/a-1258-7982
Regimentos e Batalhões, Brigadas e Divisões
Pedrosa, F. V. G. (2020) · Coleção Meira Mattos · doi:10.22491/cmm.a040
Turchin, P. (2020) · Cliodynamics The Journal of Quantitative History and Cultural Evolution · doi:10.21237/c7clio11251633
The Development and Impact of Hong Taiji’s Artillery Corps (1631–1643)
Chung, Y. H. M. (2021) · Journal of Chinese Military History · doi:10.1163/22127453-bja10007
The Evolution of Projectile Design
Hazell, P. J. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73652-1_7
War, weaponry, and empire: 2. Modern
Pizzo, D. (2016) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe407
Securing Firearms inside An Arsenal through Using A Remotely-Operated Sensor-Based Safety Mechanism
Islam, M. S., Rahaman, M., & Islam, A. B. M. A. A. (2021) · International Conference on Networking, Systems and Security (NSysS) · doi:10.1145/3491371.3491377
Long-Term Patterns of Conflict and Stability in the Asian Region
Thompson, W. R., Sakuwa, K., & Suhas, P. H. (2021) · Evidence-Based Approaches to Peace and Conflict Studies · doi:10.1007/978-981-16-6671-1_7
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0009
(2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118305492.biblio
(2009) · Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies · doi:10.1017/s0041977x09000494
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.003.0006
(2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.026
Pryor, J. H. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.025
Mendoza, R. G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.022
Perret, D., & Alves, J. S. (2022) · Archipel · doi:10.4000/archipel.2839
Sino-Turkish Relations from the Pre-Modern Era to the Present
Yurdagul, E. (2022) · International Journal of East Asian Studies · doi:10.22452/ijeas.vol11no1.8
Graff, D. A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139025492.027
Streusand, D. E. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/obo/9780199791279-0185
Dastrup, B. L. (2011) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781444338232.wbeow043
Black, J. (2011) · doi:10.1007/978-0-230-34426-6_1
(2017) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-805372-0.16001-8
McLay, K. A. J. (2011) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781444338232.wbeow265
Gunpowder War and Western Supremacy: Circa 1450–Circa 1770
Roy, K. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-19-3478-0_8
Romer, D., & Bushman, B. J. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-98711-4_22-1
Romer, D., & Bushman, B. J. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-31547-3_22
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.002.0003
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.002.0005
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.002.0008
Renic, N. C. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198851462.002.0004
To the Question of the Creation and Distribution of Gunpowder Weapons
Нефедов, С. А. (2024) · History and modern perspectives · doi:10.33693/2658-4654-2024-6-1-113-118
Schießpulverkrieg und westliche Vorherrschaft: ca. 1450–ca. 1770
Roy, K. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-3034-6_8
Niewiński, A. (2024) · Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki · doi:10.4467/0023589xkhnt.24.028.20113
Kompetisi Portugal-Belanda dalam Perdagangan Senjata Api di Nusantara, 1498-1641
Kurnia, K. P., Zakaria, M. M., & Mahzuni, D. (2024) · Fajar Historia Jurnal Ilm Sejarah dan Pendidikan · doi:10.29408/fhs.v8i3.26493
Form and Fortification: The Art of Military Architecture in Renaissance Italy
Davis, E. J. (2025) · The AAG Review of Books · doi:10.1080/2325548x.2025.2523489
The legacy of the nomadic empires
Manz, B. F. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9780511843136.003
Parrott, D. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9780511843136.002
War in the era of Qing imperial consolidation and expansion, 1587–1804
Crossley, P. K. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9780511843136.021
Martín, F. A. (2025) · e-Spania · doi:10.4000/14w8o
A Functionalist Account of the Mortar-Firing Rite in the Funeral Discourse of the Anufɔ
Yaw-kan, J. P. (2026) · OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying · doi:10.1177/00302228251415101
Schmid, R. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009008839.036
Metadata
- Authors
- Chase, K.
- Corresponding author
- Chase, Kenneth
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 2003-07-07
- OpenAlex
- W4252404275
- Cited by
- 143
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 2.47
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Military history and social perspectives
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Military History and Strategy
- Keywords
- firearms history, gunpowder weapons, siege warfare, infantry weapons, nomadic warfare, steppe nomads, early modern warfare
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
