Synopses & Reviews
Salamis, Agincourt, Lepanto, Trafalgar, Gettysburg, Iswandlana, the Somme, Stalingrad--
Battlefield: Decisive Conflicts in History tells the stories of the most dramatic, memorable, and important conflicts in world history. It begins with the battle of Megiddo in ancient Egypt in 1476 BC and takes the reader through to the Second Gulf War, covering almost 300 battles from around the world-- including the Middle East, Asia, Africa, as well as from Europe and the Americas. This important book is edited by Richard Holmes, who has written over 20 books, including
The Oxford Companion to Military History.
The battles are grouped within chapters that tell the wider story of a particular era or region, for instance the ancient world, nineteenth-century Europe, World War I, or the Americas. Each chapter includes an introduction by Richard Holmes that sets out the historical, tactical, and technological context, and looks at current debates. In addition, individual battles are placed clearly within the wars and campaigns of which they formed a part, making it possible for the reader to follow the details of the battle, and at the same time to understand its military and historical implications.
Detailed maps portray the course of famous battles and campaigns, and a range of illustrations--many from contemporary sources--bring the narrative to life. An extensive index gives the reader quick access to historical figures, locations, battle formations, and much more. Battlefield summarizes the best of contemporary scholarship on battles and war in an accessible, engaging narrative, and it will be of interest to anyone interested in military history.
Review
"A valuable reference book."--Fred R. van Hartesveldt, Teaching History
"This book is an excellent reference for historians who want to get an over-view of the development of military forces and their use in geopolitics."--John B. Shewmaker, Catholic Library World
Review
"A valuable reference book."--Fred R. van Hartesveldt,
Teaching History"This book is an excellent reference for historians who want to get an over-view of the development of military forces and their use in geopolitics."--John B. Shewmaker, Catholic Library World
Synopsis
The Peloponnesian war, the decisive English victory at Agincourt, the brilliant sea battle of Trafalgar, the bloody three-day struggle at Gettysburg, the ferocious fighting on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day--this exciting book tells the stories of the most dramatic, memorable, and important conflicts in world history.
This superb, one-volume reference begins with the battle of Megiddo, fought by the ancient Egyptians, and takes the reader through to the Second Gulf war of 2003. On the way it describes almost 300 battles from around the world--from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, as well as from Europe and the Americas. All the battles are grouped in chapters which tell the wider story of a particular era or region, whether it be the ancient world (the campaigns of Alexander the Great or the Punic Wars) or Asia and the Middle East (the Vietnam War, the Second Gulf War). Each chapter includes an introduction that sets out the historical, tactical, and technological context, and looks at current debates among military historians. In addition, individual battles are placed clearly within the wars and campaigns of which they formed a part, allowing readers to follow the details of the battle and understand its military and historical implications.
With detailed maps, a wide range of illustrations, and an extensive index that gives the reader instant access to historical figures, locations, battle formations, and much more, Battlefield offers a gold mine of information for everyone interested in world or military history.
About the Author
Richard Holmes - the editor of
The Companion to Military History - is a very prolific author and a well-known television presenter. He is Professor of Military and Security Studies at Cranfield University and the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He has written twenty books, including
Acts of War, and
Dusty Warriors: Modern Soldiers at War.
Martin Marix Evans is the author of numerous books on military history, among them Forgotten Battles of World War I, 1918: The Year of Victories, American Voices of World War I, The Fall of France, 1940, Encyclopedia of the Boer War, and The Military Heritage of Britain and Ireland.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Ancient World
2. Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages
3. The Renaissance to the French Revolution
4. Nineteenth-century Europe
5. World War I
6. World War II
7. The Americas
8. Asia and the Middle East
9. Africa
Index