Wars That Changed History: 50 of the World's Greatest Conflicts

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A thorough study of significant wars throughout history and their influence on world affairsfrom the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmore III's Campaigns during 479459 BCE through the Iraq War of 20032011. For hundreds of years, wars have played a determining role in history and have decided the rise and fall of civilizations. Many believe that understanding the causes and consequences of warfare may move humankind towards world peace. This selection of the 50 most consequential wars, compiled by award-winning military historian Spencer C. Tucker, presents each conflict in chronological order and discusses its causes, its course, and its significance in world history. Through thoughtful essays and supporting visual evidence, this reference work examines the types of weapons systems employed and their effects in the field; the roles played by individual leaders such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln, and Adolf Hitler; and the impact of geography and economics on the battlefield. The work includes fascinating information about warfare, addressing subjects such as how transportation and logistics changed the face of war over time, what invention marked the ascendancy of infantry over cavalry, why World War I remains the most important war in the 20th century, and which war killed nearly half of the population of Germany. Each essay includes the latest interpretations of strategy, agendas, and consequences of the featured event.

Reviews

Tucker has authored a commanding volume of military history that would be a valuable addition to any library. * Booklist *
Wars that Changed History will serve as a good introduction and overview for scholars at all levels. The bibliographies at the ends of the entries provide a good start for more in-depth research. For all collections where there is an interest in history. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All libraries/levels. * Choice *

Author Bio

Spencer C. Tucker, PhD, has been senior fellow in military history at ABC-CLIO since 2003. He is the author or editor of 52 books and encyclopedias treating military and naval history, many of which have won prestigious awards.