Author Description
This reissue of Howard's classic text includes a short new afterword by the author. "Wars have often determined the character of society. Society in exchange has determined the character of wars. This is the theme of Michael Howard's stimulating book. It is written with all his usual skill and in its small compass is perhaps the most original book he has written. Though he surveys a thousand years of history, he does so without sinking in a slough of facts and draws a broad outline of developments which will delight the general reader."--A.J.P. Taylor, Observer
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the reciprocal relationship between the evolution of warfare and the structural development of European society over the course of a millennium. Michael Eliot Howard, a distinguished military historian, utilizes a concise analytical framework to demonstrate how societal shifts dictate military strategy and how, in turn, the conduct of war reshapes the political and social landscape of Europe. By synthesizing broad historical trends rather than focusing on granular tactical data, the author provides a cohesive argument regarding the interdependence of statecraft and armed conflict.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A survey of European military history spanning approximately one thousand years.
- Analysis of the transition from feudal levies to professional standing armies.
- Examination of the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the scale and nature of warfare.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide exhaustive accounts of individual battles or specific tactical maneuvers.
- It does not cover non-European military developments or global conflicts outside the European context.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the sociological dimensions of military history. Readers often note the clarity and accessibility of the prose, which distills complex historical developments into a manageable and coherent narrative.
Page Count:
165
Publication Date:
1976-01-01
ISBN-10:
0192115642
ISBN-13:
9780192115645
History
Sociology
Military History
Military Science
European History
Europe
Warfare