The Pursuit of Power: Technology, Armed Force, and Society since A.D. 1000

Professor McNeill describes this 1982 book as a "footnote" to his famous 1963  The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community , and as a companion to his even more famous 1976  Plagues and Peoples . The subject of "The Pursuit of Power" is warfare rather than disease, as in "Plagues and People", but Prof. McNeill's conceptual approach is the same. In fact, in the introduction to this book he describes armed force as "micro-parasitism" of the human race.This is a densely-written and tremendously erudite book. It has 540 footnotes, all pertinent, in 387 pages. There are 21 very interesting illustrations, including a beautiful etching by Violet le Duc showing the use of the 16th century "trace italienne" in defensive siege warfare, Maurice of Orange's 1607 manual of arms for musketeers, and tank photographs from Heinz Guderian's "Panzer Leader". Every page is filled with interest for the general historian as well as the specialist in military affairs, but it is not light reading.He elaborates on a few broad themes as drivers of historical change, echoing his previous work: Population growth, the development of markets, and the evolution of military technology. He states: "Indeed all humankind is still reeling from the impact of the democratic and industrial revolutions, triggered so unexpectedly in the last decade of the eighteenth century." He elaborates on these changes as they play out in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.The last chapter, "The Arms Race and Command Economies since 1945" is by far the weakest. He is rather naive in his assessment of Stalin, and curiously equated the Soviet and Western systems under the rubric "command economy". He was myopic about the power of free market behavior in his own time and society, while being quite enthusiastic about it in medieval China.This leads to a discordant "Conclusion", in which he describes the default political and economic state of the human race as being a despotic command economy. He believed that a "global sovereign power" was the only solution to the threat of nuclear war, the alternative being the "sudden and total annihilation of the human species." I think of the ideal state described by Socrates in Plato's "Republic" as he writes, "Political management, having monopolized the overt organization of armed force, resumed its primacy over human behavior. Self-interest and the pursuit of private profit through buying and selling sank towards the margins of daily life, operating within limits and according to rules laid down by the holders of political-military power. Human society, in short, returned to normal."Like most who have envisioned a world government, he doesn't describe how such a power could possibly evolve, other than through brute force."Even Homer nods", and Prof. McNeill makes a couple of bloopers. He uses the term "hand gun" where most people would use the term "small arms". He attributes the bellicosity of Northern Europeans to their carnivorous eating habits, which required the shedding of much animal blood, and cites the Viking sagas for support, which I think is ridiculous. Plenty of non-Northern Europeans are carnivorous as well as bellicose, and there are plenty of bellicose peoples who eat little or no meat. But these are minor quibbles.This book is important to everyone with an interest in history, especially the history of warfare. The future may hold some unpleasant surprises for the human species, perhaps including extinction through epidemic disease, nuclear war, or catastrophic climate change. The future is also, however, unknowable and may hold some surprises for us on the upside, despite Prof. McNeill's pessimistic vision.Highly recommended.

The book is very demanding in terms of historical knowledge. It is not limited to the history of wars or weapons, it casually slips to politics, trade and exploration without giving any detailed explanations (which will actually be impossible while maintaining the topic). Reading about historical periods or regions, which are not very familiar to you, is quite hard to the point of losing the narrative thread.Unfortunately the author has not elaborated the idea of armed force as a parasite/disease of a human society, which looked very promising at the preface. The chapter about the XX century looks incomplete, mostly because the author didn't mentioned the ideology as significant forces behind initiating and maintaining the world wars (especially the second one) and because it misses the events of the last decade of the century (which is not of course the fault of the author). You may also find some disputable generalizations in the book, but nothing that can change the fact, that the book is good. If you are interested in a good review of armed force history - go ahead, it is worth the time.

A friend of mine once suggested the United States have a 'Historian Laureate,' and recommended William McNeill for the position. I could not agree more. On the first page alone I marked 3 passages to make sure I could find them in the future, and tracked down my son to point out how important they were for an understanding of mankind (he tolerated the interruption but didn't seem to catch the fever).OK, every page thereafter does not live up to this standard, but as is usual McNeill synthesizes history into comprehensible themes that withstand the test of time. He never panders to the reader, but leaves one wondering why the book is not required reading for everyone seeking public office. If, that is, any of them have actually read a book?If you are just looking for a list of cool military toys this book isn't for you, by the way. But if you want to understand human history, it is one of the basics.

I'm roughly half-way through the book. It contains clear and perhaps profound insights into the development of Western economic and military power. One key factor is managing the delicate balance and interaction between free markets and government regulation. Another is accomplishing ultimate political ascendency of the political wing over the military wing of society. Another is, surprisingly, the practical and psychological effect of drill upon infantry. In short, organization. Get it right and you're a modern world power. Get it wrong and you can only talk about how you used to be great in medieval or ancient times and invented various things when the British, French and Germans were living in caves.

Two insights to me (1) Wars made arms, arms made capitalism and the industrial revolution, (2) WW I and II were twin wars or one intermittent war -- what we think normal in today's society are just made through these wars.A star lost because the sentences are too long and words are too difficult. But they were worth being challenged ;-)

The book taught me a lot about China and capitalism a thousand years ago that I had never heard before. One tidbit is how the discovery of Alfala made hay possible and hence increased range for military maneuvers. It does not read like a novel. But then it is not a novel. But it is worth reading.

A great book if you want to learn about the effect of economy and technology on military.

Excellent overview of the evolution of military strategy, tactics and weapons over the past 1000 years.

Superb exposition, great detail, clear flow of information. This book looks at the impact of small examples (Prince Maurice training book) and big picture (run of abundant harvests).

Great book on military history.

Brilliant examination of interconnected warfare and political power for the last millennium.Bill Mahaney, author of The Warmaker, The Golden Till and Operation Black Eagle.

Good book!