Product Description

Now available in a revised and updated version, The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare provides a unique account of Western warfare from antiquity to the present day. The book treats the history of all aspects of the subject: the development of warfare on land, sea and air; weapons and technology; strategy and defence; discipline and intelligence; mercenaries and standing armies; cavalry and infantry; chivalry and Blitzkrieg; guerilla assault and nuclear arsenals. It places in context particular key events in the history of armed engagement, from the Greek victory at Marathon, through the introduction of gunpowder in medieval England and France, to the jungle warfare of Vietnam and the strategic air attacks of the Gulf War. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the socio-economic aspects of military progress: who pays for it, how can its returns be measured, and to what extent does it explain the rise of the West to global dominance over two millennia?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #212263 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Review
‘Highly polished and well illustrated, this book is a comprehensive history of the Western (European) way of war, spanning ancient Greece to today’s modern methods and policies of destruction … The text is superbly supported by numerous and handy sidebars providing details, insights, and anecdotes … Parker’s conclusion is historically based and particularly chilling.’ Library Journal

‘… this is a well-written and handsomely presented volume … the illustrations are pertinent, and the captions interesting … the range of scholarship is impressive…and it has all been pulled together by the finest military historian currently writing, who has also contributed several important sections.’ History in Focus

‘… exceptional … beautifully illustrated … A highly readable book, and an interesting one, both for the expert and the amateur enthusiast. A must for college libraries.’ USI Journal

‘This book deserves close attention from the student of military affairs…a valuable overview of the history of warfare …’ Foreign Affairs

‘This is an attractive book. The numerous illustrations are marvellous and are integrated well with the text.’ Journal of World History

About the Author
Geoffrey Parker is Andreas Dorpalen Professor of History at the Ohio State University. He is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road, 1567–1659 (second edition, Cambridge, 2004) and The Military Revolution: Military Innovation and the Rise of the West, 1500–1800 (second edition, Cambridge, 2001).

Customer Reviews

Good overview, but some downsides
I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a broad overview of military history. The text in the book is actually very good, although I at first didn't like the book much because I thought it was disorganized. The book is full of inserted boxes explaining details or battles, while the main text meanders around these boxes. The boxes can be confusing and draws your attention from what you are currently reading - you flip a page, see a small battle in a box and you want to read it, taking your eyes off the main text. Still, the content is good all round.

Maps and illustrations are inconsistent and use different symbols, which is also annoying. Explaining the tactics of a Roman Legion using 8 1" x 2" illustrations on the margin is just not good enough.

Pros:
-Good overview of huge subject
-Very good text, concise and to the point
-Has all historical battles

Cons:
-Illustrations and map could be better
-Confusing structure, but patience is rewarded

A classic book for all military enthusiasts
This book would be ideal for anybody wishing to understand a broad range of elements in the development of warfare throughout history. Parker analyses the development of warfare in all its apects- on land, sea and air. The book contains some superb illustrations covering naval engagements, historical weaponry and battle tactics from Alexander the Great to Napolean. Parker also looks in some detail at more modern conflicts from World War I to the gulf war showing how battles were won and lost and the technology used to win these wars. Personally, I particularly enjoyed the chapter covering the development of fortifications with the advent of gunpowder- Parker uses some very useful illustrations of the work of, for example, Vauban- one of the greatest fortification engineers in 17th century europe. If you enjoy miliary history and want an easy and enjoyable read I suggest that you buy this book as it is one of the most comprehensive books I have read on the development of warfare throughout history.