From the Arquebus to the Breechloader: How Firearms Transformed Early Infantry Tactics

Firearms technology dominates the modern day battlefield, but how did the earliest guns affect battles in the Middle Ages? From their earliest incarnations in the 14th Century – which were as much a danger to their operator as they were to the enemy – to the breech-loading rifles of the 19th century, "From the Arquebus to the Breechloader" traces the technological advancements that revolutionized weapons, and how infantry tactics were forced to evolve as new and more lethal weapons were developed.