War is a compelling subject. It is common to almost all known societies and periods of history. The Cambridge History of Warfare, first published in 2005, provides a detailed account of war in the West from antiquity to the present day, and is unique because of its controversial thesis that war in western societies has followed a unique path leading to western dominance of the globe. From the Greek victory at Marathon to the Gulf War, readable and authoritative, The Cambridge History of Warfare places in context the key events in the history of armed engagement. All aspects of war on land, sea, and in the air are covered: weapons and technology; strategy and defense; discipline and intelligence; mercenaries and standing armies; cavalry and infantry; chivalry and Blitzkrieg; guerilla assault and nuclear arsenals. This volume, first published as The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare, includes maps and an updated bibliography.
"Here is the story of war as the driving force in the rise of the West from the Greeks to our own day. Written by some of the world's leading experts in military history, this remarkable book combines scholarship with style. Without pulling any punches about the misery of the battlefield, it makes the case for the centrality of warfare in the history of the West and the world. Rarely has so much learning, lucidity, and wisdom been found between two covers."
-Barry Strauss, Cornell University, and author of The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter that Saved Greece--and Western Civilization
-Barry Strauss, Cornell University, and author of The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter that Saved Greece--and Western Civilization