Was there ever a time when a technically sophisticated civilization reverted to an earlier, less advanced technology? There was, Japan, 1543-1879. During this period Japan effectively prohibited all manufacture of firearms and gunpowder, and isolated itself from the rest of the world with a blockade that remained successful until Commodore Perry's celebrated opening of Japan in 1854. An altogether fascinating book because Perrin is a consistently good storyteller, because even his footnotes are a delight to read, and because this story has few parallels in modern history.
- ISBN10 0879237732
- ISBN13 9780879237738
- Publish Date 1 October 1988 (first published 12 September 1980)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 12 April 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint David R. Godine Publisher Inc
- Edition Revised edition
- Format Paperback
- Pages 136
- Language English