The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare (Cambridge Illustrated Histories) [Paperback]

Geoffrey Parker (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 11, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0521794315 | ISBN-13: 978-0521794312

The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare provides a unique account of Western warfare from antiquity to the present. The book treats all aspects of the subject from the Greeks to the nuclear age: the development of warfare on land, sea and air; weapons and technology; strategy and defense; discipline and intelligence. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the socio-economic aspects of war: 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? Geoffrey Parker is one of the world's leading authorities on military history and is the editor of The Times Atlas of World History (1993) and the author of The Military Revolution (Cambridge,1988).

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

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. Parker and six prominent American and British scholars contribute 17 chapters to this detailed study of war. Parker's effort explores the history of Western war through strategy and policy; tactics and logistics; finances and culture; weapons and fortifications; air, land and naval battle; and conventional and civil war. The text is superbly supported by numerous and handy sidebars providing details, insights, and anecdotes. Supplementing the text are a reference guide containing a rather subjective chronology of warfare, a pedestrian and slightly inaccurate glossary, and a marvelously described annotated bibliography. Parker's conclusion is historically based and particularly chilling. For the general reader.?Col. William D. Bushnell, USMC (Ret.), Brunswick, Me.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"...this book deserves close attention from the student of military affairs....The attractive volume makes imaginative use of diagrams, maps, and pictures, which serve far more than merely decorative purposes. In short, a valuable overview of the history of warfare, and a worthy companion of other fine one-volume surveys." Foreign Affairs

"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

"The volume's thesis, controversial for some, claims that it is the West's peculiar form of waging war that has led it to dominate so much of the globe. As the various essays in the book outline the development of war in the West, they very ably support that central thesis....copious illustrations--especially the battle plans and reconstructions....will be welcome reading to anyone who wants a broad overview of warfare." Bloomsbury Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521794315
• ISBN-13: 978-0521794312
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #897,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Summary On The Evolution of Western Warfare, March 15, 2005

By 

Octavius (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare (Cambridge Illustrated Histories) (Paperback)

As with its political and economic systems, Western Europe came to develop very unique military institutions that had evolved from Greco-Roman military doctrines applying war as a science and as a precise instrument towards defined political ends: emphasizing on uniform training and equipment as well as strict discipline. This book studies the evolution of Western military institutions from antiquity to modern times and demonstrates how these progressive changes contributed to the modern doctrines of Western warfare that are used today by every nation-state.

Geoffrey Parker did an excellent job in this work. Although many illustrative books are just that, this book has very detailed explanations in addition to very useful illustrations such as photos, maps, and diagrams. The book covers all of the important aspects of Western military evolution. For example, it will start by explaining how the early Greek phallanx comprised of citizen farmers was a significant factor to developing the citizen armies of the Roman legions to the later nation-state armies of 18th century Europe. The book looks at the impact of important military/political thinkers such as Thucydides, Caesar, Machiavelli, and Clausewitz, in the evolution of military doctrine. The book of course makes sure to cover how advances in science and engineering such as siege engines, firearms, and explosives changed the conduct of warfare and how armies adapted to such changes.

This is nothing short of an excellent book that has the right balance between text and illustrations. Unlike other illustrative texts that are mostly pictures with little substance, this book is extremely thorough and detailed as to the main factors responsible towards the unique evolution of western military institutions and their impact on the world. I strongly recommend it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly the overview for which I was searching, March 19, 2007

By 

K. Yost (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare (Cambridge Illustrated Histories) (Paperback)

This book offers an excellent overview of warfare throughout the ages, from the Assyrians to the present day, and covering the personalities, weapons, strategies, tactics and technologies used. It should be noted that it covers only warfare as it has impacted and been fought in the Western culture, with no reference at all to important forces like the Mongols and only very brief interludes relating to the likes of China and Japan (except insofar as their wars involved Western opponents as in the Russo-Japanese War or World War II).

It is not a work for experts, in my opinion, but a terrific primer for those who are new to the subject and looking to ground themselves in the subject before moving on to more focussed and analytical works.

One very helpful feature of the book is that it contains diagrams of several key battles, showing troop deployments and movements. Many other overview texts on the history of warfare which I have seen merely describe the battles, and I found the diagrams particularly useful in clarifying how these fights developed. My one criticism of the book is that might have used more such diagrams, but that is a quibble.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introductory overview of military history, August 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare (Cambridge Illustrated Histories) (Hardcover)

Geoffrey Parker has assembled some of the best working military historians for this volume, so that each chapter is up-to-date, well written, and reliable. Unlike many illustrated histories, this one gives at least some endnote references, and includes excellent short bibliographies for each chapter. The illustrations are also outstanding. About as good a history of warfare as could be produced within its word limits. --Professor Clifford J. Rogers