The book, Weapons: An International Encyclopedia From 5000 B.C. To 2000 A.D., explains and illustrates the whole range of devices with which man has armed himself with during this period of time.  This book brings together in one volume, a representative cross section of all types of weapons from all ages and cultures.  The illustrated objects are arranged according to their function as weapons be they defensive or offensive in nature.  In general, there is a chronological progression through each of the chapters in this book from the simple to the complex.  The emphasis is on weapons that were developed and used primarily for military purposes as opposed to devices used for hunting or recreational pursuits.  This reference book edition includes a new 16 page chapter covering the remarkable advances in modern weapons experienced in the 1980s and projected for the 1990s.  The major sections of this book are as follows: 1) Arming the hand; 2) Hand-thrown missiles; 3) Hand-held missile-throwers; 4) Mounted missile-throwers; 5) Positioned weapons; 6) Bombs and self-propelled missiles; 7) Chemical, nuclear and biological weapons; 8) The thinking battlefield; 9) Regional and historical indexes; 10) Famous names; 11) Acknowledgements; 12) Bibliography and 13) Index.  In addition to a very informative text, the book Weapons: An International Encyclopedia From 5000 B.C. To 2000 A.D., includes hundreds of black and white illustrations, diagrams, weapon statistics and photographs.  In the end, this book has been crafted as a work in reference that can serve as a comprehensive introduction to the subject for the any student of weapons history or armchair general.  This book is 336 pages and is in very good condition.  The editor is David Harding from the Diagram Group.  Edition published in 1990.