After firearms evolved from a rifle to a shotgun and bolt-action rifle, inventor Walter Hunt developed the concept of a "magazine" for easier loading of semi-automatic and automatic weapons.

Since the earliest civilizations in Assyria, Egypt and Greece, man has erected forts, barricades and battlements to protect his personal property. Some of the oldest defensive structures still exist today.

Tanks were originally invented as an extension of armory to protect soldiers from enemy fire, but as personal armor became too heavy, tanks became globally accepted in warfare.

Since the 2nd millennium BC, ships have been used for trade, exploration, piracy, and transporting troops to battle, with formal navies appearing from the 6th and 7th centuries.