The Great Battles of Antiquity: A Strategic and Tactical Guide to Great Battles that Shaped the Development of War

(Hardback)

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The "Great Captains" frequently looked to crucial battles to learn lessons that they themselves employed. While the battles of antiquity have often been examined, Western generals looked to the wars of the Greeks and the Romans, the Chinese to their own campaigns, and so on. In this volume, Gabriel and Boose examine the 31 wars, campaigns or battles from Megiddo (1479 BC) to the fall of Constantinople (AD 1453) that had the greatest impact on the ancient world, stretching from the Mediterranean through the Middle East to Japan and Korea. Beginning with Negiddo, the first battle in history for which there is a relatively detailed account of strategy and tactics, Gabriel and Boose provide a systematic survey of major battles, wars and campaigns. Each analysis begins with the Strategic Setting, which places events within the larger political and strategic context; then looks to the Antagonists, providing a comparative look at each army, its equipment, tactics, weaponry, logistics, style of combat leadership, and doctrine to assess its major strengths and weaknesses. The authors then examine the Battle, offering a detailed account of the struggle complete with maps and charts to clarify the analysis of what happened on the battlefield. The final section, Lessons of War, dissects each battle for its successes and failures that are particularly relevant to the development and conduct of war in the modern age. Each survey ends with a bibliography of key sources for further reading. This volume is designed to be a valuable reference source for military historians and professionals as well as the general reader.

Reviews

.,."a well written book grand in scope and design, and worthy of study by soldiers and statesmen alike. The breadth and depth of this book is worthy of volumes, but the four-step methodology employed by the authors serves them well in limiting its scope. The analysis in all four categories is superb. The authors are meticulous in their presentation of the impact of culture on warfare. This book serves as a primer on how to integrate culture into military history without diluting the importance of either in society."-Armor
...a well written book grand in scope and design, and worthy of study by soldiers and statesmen alike. The breadth and depth of this book is worthy of volumes, but the four-step methodology employed by the authors serves them well in limiting its scope. The analysis in all four categories is superb. The authors are meticulous in their presentation of the impact of culture on warfare. This book serves as a primer on how to integrate culture into military history without diluting the importance of either in society.-Armor
..."a well written book grand in scope and design, and worthy of study by soldiers and statesmen alike. The breadth and depth of this book is worthy of volumes, but the four-step methodology employed by the authors serves them well in limiting its scope. The analysis in all four categories is superb. The authors are meticulous in their presentation of the impact of culture on warfare. This book serves as a primer on how to integrate culture into military history without diluting the importance of either in society."-Armor

Author Bio

RICHARD A. GABRIEL is Professor of Politics and History at the U.S. Army War College, where he teaches Ancient Military History. He is the author of numerous books on warfare from antiquity to the present. DONALD W. BOOSE, JR., is a combat veteran who spent much of his 30 year military career in Korea and Japan. He teaches military strategy and operations at the U.S. Army War College, where he was previously the Director of Asian Studies. He also teaches East Asian history and culture at Wilson College in Pennsylvania.