By the time of World War I, technology was a key component to winning the war. The use of the Maxim Gun, a self-powered machine gun, increased the number of casualties in the war since it increased the number of bullets fired. The British also introduced artillery tanks into the war, allowing troops to fire upon their enemies at a closer range. To protect themselves from powerful artillery attacks, both sides of the war used trench warfare.
British inventor Hiram Maxim invented this weapon in 1881. The British used this weapon during its imperialistic period of the 19th century.
Invented by the British, the artillery tank was a manned armored vehicle that was equipped with machine guns. The tank allowed soldiers to get closer to the enemy while being protected from gunfire.
During WWI, much of the war was fought from trenches dug more than six feet deep into the ground. Soldiers lived and fought in these trenches. American soldiers used barbed wire to protect the trenches. Click here to watch a video about trench warfare.