Trivia / The Art of War (Machiavelli)

• Technology Marches On: Things like machine guns and line formation just don't mix well. Pike and shot formation the book introduced was rendered obsolete with invention and widespread use of bayonets. And while quite progressive for its times, the approach toward firearms and artillery is rather timid and limited. It makes sense once you remember Machiavelli was essentially presenting a military reform program for an Italian city-state of his time, rather than aiming for timeless truths of warfare, thus necessarily limiting the scope of applicability of this work.