Encyclopedia of Wars - 3 Volume of Set (Fact on File Library of World History) [Hardcover]

Charles Phillips (Author), Alan Axelrod (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–While this work is by no means comprehensive, it will more than meet students' research needs. The clearly written entries are organized alphabetically. Each one includes a text box with an overview of the combatants, casualties, treaties, principal theaters, outcome, and the major issues and objectives, followed by an overview of the battle or war that places it in historical context and a short list of further reading. The date of the earliest conflict included is the Fall of Jericho c. 8000 B.C.E., followed by Sargon's Conquests of Sumer in 2325 B.C.E.; entries continue through the year 2003 with the ongoing U.S.-Iraq War and the U.S. War on Terrorism. Most of the major European and U.S. conflicts are examined. Coverage for other countries is adequate. A few examples are the Sino-Korean wars, Muslim civil wars, Indonesian wars, the Ethiopian-Eritrean Guerrilla War, the Rwandan and Afghan civil wars. Clear, black-and-white maps are scattered throughout, each with a key. Volume three contains a chronology and an extensive index.–Madeleine G. Wright, New Hampton School, NH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Targeted especially to students and teachers of history, this set on wars will also be of interest to the general public. The work focuses on details of the fighting as well as on the social and political contexts of the time of each war. Arranged alphabetically (from Abbasid Revolution to Zulu War), the more than 1,800 entries cover the rather obscure to the more well-known wars from classical times to present day, circa 8,000 B.C.E. (Jericho, Fall of) to 2003 (United States-Iraq War).

Each entry includes a list of belligerents, statement of the causes, date of the declaration of war, numbers (where known) of those bearing arms and the casualties suffered, a summary of the outcome, and names and dates of treaties or documents (if any) ending the conflict. A narrative discussion capsulizes the social and political context of the period, the major battles and events of the war, and the wider significance of the conflict. The discussions range from half a page for the Afghan revolt of 699-701 to 40-plus pages for World War II, with slight emphasis given to North American conflicts. Cross-references point to related entries and from common alternate names of conflicts. Suggestions for further reading close out the entries.

Volume 1 includes a list of entries and a list of the more than 60 maps that are scattered throughout the set, and volume 3 includes a chronological listing of wars, a selected bibliography, and an index. Treatment of larger conflicts is segmented. For example, World War II is discussed in a series of entries, including Historical background, Outbreak and early German conquests, Africa and the Mediterranean, Atlantic front, China-Burma-India Theater, Greece and the Balkans, Italian front, Pacific, Russian front, and Western front.

The authors, history professors who worked on this encyclopedia for 10 years, have produced a very readable and apparently well-researched book that both scholars and history buffs will enjoy. As with other Facts On File reference books, this set is easy to use and well designed. This would be an excellent purchase for high-school, college, and public libraries. kaye talley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1502 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (December 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816028516
• ISBN-13: 978-0816028511
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 3.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,482,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No B.C.E. or C.E. 'history' books for me, December 3, 2008

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VeritasAmo (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Wars - 3 Volume of Set (Fact on File Library of World History) (Hardcover)

No matter how well researched this encyclopaedia of war is, I will not buy anything that uses the silly BCE/CE time frame reference instead of the traditional BC/AD. The idea that the politically correct BCE/Ce somehow is more acceptable than the time honored BC/AD is ridiculous since it is based up the exact same reference point: just say it...gasp...the birth of Jesus in Nazareth. I know that makes most ivory tower academic heads spin and eyeballs bulge out, but I find their dissing of the importance of this event intellectually dishonest and cowardly. How can they profess to be experts on any subject of history when they deny the very history they are heirs to. How can I expect truthful analysis of any historical subject from such people? I'd be curious to see if they treat the war histories accurately, or if they reflect the anti-western bias of most so-called academics and college professors. Too bad...this really would have made a great Christmas gift for my two sons who love military history and who aren't ashamed to use BC/AD in their papers.