Paul D. Lockhart is a professor of history at Wright State University.

Professor and author Paul Lockhart will give a public seminar on the evolution of weaponry in military history Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Lane Hall.

Lockhart’s lecture, “Why Historians Ignore Weapons and Why They Shouldn’t,” will be based on his latest book, “Firepower: How Weapons Shaped Warfare.” His talk will explore the role of technological advancements in warfare and how history has been shaped by countries who adapt their weaponry faster than others. 

Lockhart has written six books about American and Danish military history, including “Frederik II and the Protestant Cause: Denmark’s Role in the Wars of Religion” and “The Drillmaster of Valley Forge: The Baron de Steuben and the Making of the American Army.”

“Changes in firearms have changed how people fight wars in fundamental ways,” said David Stewart, professor of history and a faculty member of Hillsdale’s Center for Military History and Strategy. 

Stewart said as weapons technology advanced, militaries needed to invest more in research and development of newer weapons, change battle strategies, and spend more on training soldiers with new weaponry. 

“You don’t understand history if you don’t understand military history,” Stewart said. “Today, you can’t be an informed voter if you don’t understand our military and therefore our foreign policy.”

Sophomores Leonard Fitz and Grace Canlas, students of Stewart’s Foundation of Military History II class, said they plan to attend Lockhart’s lecture.

“The thing I’m most looking forward to is not just looking at firepower and how it has influenced warfare in a military sense, but also how it has shaped governments in the West and in the world,” Canlas said.

Fritz said he has already read parts of Lockhhart’s book and said he is interested to hear him speak in person. 

“Dr. Lockhart seems like a very accomplished historian,” Fritz said. “It should be interesting to hear what he has to say about how really rapid technological advancement happens in a pretty short amount of time.”