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Afghanistan: A Military History From Alexander The Great To The Fall Of The Taliban (Paperback)

~ (Author) "WHEN AMERICAN B-52S INTO ACTION on either side of the Hindu Kush in the fall of 2001, the military of Afghanistan came fullcircle..." (more)
Key Phrases: steppe warriors, native infantry, Hindu Kush, Genghis Khan, Shah Shuja (more...)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A carefully researched account...a worthy addition to both academic and public libraries." -- Choice September 2003

"Provides a good first step into the fascinating world of Afghan history." -- Wargamer.com 11/23/03

Product Description

The only complete single-volume military history of Afghanistan, from ancient times to the war waged by the United States after September 11.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, the world was riveted as American military power contested the legendary warrior culture of Afghanistan. By spring 2002, America began to draw down its forces, its mission accomplished: The Afghan Taliban regime has been overthrown and the terrorists it harbored were on the run. Was America's easy victory proof of its military superiority, or were the Afghans merely eyeing the newcomers as they have watched foreign armies in centuries past, knowing time is on their side?

For over 2,500 years, the forbidding territory of Afghanistan has served as a vital crossroads--not just for armies but for clashes between civilizations--the Greeks, Arabs, Mongols, and Tartars, and in more recent times, Britain and Russia. Now America must face a new enemy on this land--a land that for centuries has become a graveyard of empires past.

This first-ever complete military history of Afghanistan illuminates the broad historical context into which American forces have been drawn--a cautionary tale, perhaps, about the dangers that may lie ahead.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Da Capo Press (July 8, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0306812339
  • ISBN-13: 978-0306812330
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #465,951 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

Stephen Tanner
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
WHEN AMERICAN B-52S INTO ACTION on either side of the Hindu Kush in the fall of 2001, the military of Afghanistan came fullcircle. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
steppe warriors, native infantry
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Hindu Kush, Genghis Khan, Shah Shuja, Northern Alliance, United States, Ahmad Shah, Soviet Union, Dost Mohammed, Bala Hissar, Lady Sale, Akbar Khan, Amu Darya, New York, Khyber Pass, White Huns, Persian Empire, Red Army, Great King, Sher Ali, Ismail Khan, United Nations, Panjshir Valley, Ranjit Singh, Nadir Shah, Arabian Sea
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Citations (learn more)
This book cites 44 books:
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7 books cite this book:
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Afghanistan by Angelo Rasanayagam
 

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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban, April 1, 2006
This book was very well researched and written. Even if you have very little knowledge of Afghanistan, you can understand and easily read this book. It is full of interesting history, along with it's excellent explanation of the military information that is the center if it's purpose.
Not being a military history buff, I was pleased to see that some of this country's history, it's native peoples, and some their customs were also covered.
It is good reading.
You must be interested in Afghanistan and it's history to read this book, and if you are this book is a winner for you.
The only drawback is that you can get lost in all of the names, battles and locations happening at once, especially during the Alexander period. If you have the patience to reread some passages over again, you'll be fine.
Lots of good information.
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28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good for the first 90%, then downhill rapidly., March 1, 2005
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This book is an excellent introduction to the "big" history of modern-day Afghanistan, providing an overview of empire building and collapsing (either Afghans pushing outward or others pushing inwards), succeeding waves of tribes and armies moving through the region, etc. For anyone interested in having an understanding of Afghanistan with some historical depth to it, this book is one I would, consequently, recommend.

Where the author falls flat, in my opinion, is when he begins to pontificate on how the United States should have pursued its intervention in that nation. In this instance he betrays a minimal level of understanding ("where were the light parts of the 1st Infantry Division?" being a question he asks, apparently unaware that the current answer is that such don't exist, for instance).

The book does redeem itself a bit in looking at the future of Afghanistan, with the author proposing a rather novel notion of modelling the Afghan government on that of Switzerland. The author makes a decent case for the idea, even if it might sound a bit odd.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Overall Hostory of Afghanistan, March 1, 2008
I wanted to study up on the region while I was assigned there, and I read many books from Amazon.com. Many had bits and pieces of the history, but this book had a grand view from early times of Alexander the Great, the Muslim invasions, the Mongol conquest to later times during the Soviet invasion and the later rise of the Taliban. This book is essential and provides a basic understanding of many of the key players, which I was largely unable to find elsewhere. If I were given one choice of a book to read to understand Afghanistan for a Westerner before visiting there, this book would be it, especially for the price. Other books may provide some more detailed analysis of a smaller scale (Great Game, British Wars, Soviet War, etc.) but a whole history is most informative.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous primer of Afghanistan - 'you can't buck history!'
A history book that reads with the pace of a thriller, bringing centuries of history to life for the non-academic reader. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Rusmat Ahmed

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding History of Afghan Warfare
While this book does not equal the breadth and fluidity achieved by Ahmed Rashid in "Descent Into Chaos," it nevertheless manages to fully convey the difficulties army commanders... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Paul A. Escajadillo

1.0 out of 5 stars Too much emphasis on external wars and not enough on internal strife
I would have to agree with the negative reviews here and state that too much emphasis on external wars and basically nothing on internal civil wars. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Theoni Lussos

5.0 out of 5 stars Graveyard of Armies
Seems history in Afghanistan tends to repeat itself from time to time. First Alexander the Great tried to subdue the proud Iranian and Scythian warriors in a bloody and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Agustin Guerrero

1.0 out of 5 stars Sloppy scholarship that comes to no real answers
This is a very poorly written book and looking at all the reviews on it I would have never realised it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Remy

2.0 out of 5 stars Unenlightened View of Military Violence and its Futility
Mr. Tanner tends to repeat the details of battle with an unenlightened attitude that allows him, all too often, to glorify battle and its associated carnage and death. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Heavyrunner

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Basic History of Afghanistan
Well written account of a nation always in a tumultous situation.Is a simple reading with good insights and the author explains Afghanistan plight very well.
Published 12 months ago by Jorge I. Villanueva

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Read
Highly recommend this for anyone who wants to get background on Afghanistan. It is possible to "win" though it will take time, patience and understanding. And of course the will.
Published 12 months ago by Heartzincali

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone interested in operations in Afghanistan
This is a very interesting book for anyone who wants to understand the current situation in Afghanistan. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Zacarias Hernández Calvo

5.0 out of 5 stars Afghanistan
I found this book very easy to read and digest. It covers a lot of history, but does not dwell too long on any one area. Read more
Published 17 months ago by A. B. Williams

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