History of War

When the remains of 27 skeletons dating back to 8000 BCE were found: | 3 <2 near Lake Turkana in Kenya, their brutal collective demise appearedto = be the earliest verifiable example of warfare. A History of War takes on the story of warfare from its earliest incarnation in prehistoric tribal disputes, through great imperial and global wars, to present-day counter-insurgency and ‘hybrid’ conflicts. It considers how armies evolved from part-time and seasonal forces to professional standing armies, and later, in the time of global conflict, mass conscription. The technology of war is also covered in detail, including w — from longbows to machine guns, vehicle systems.and tacti ell as offensive and defensive strategies. These developments aft illustrated with examples of wars through the ages, including early battles such as those at Actium and Marathon, progressing through the great conflicts of the early modern era, including the Wars of the Roses and the Hundred Years War in Europe as well as the impact of great warrior peoples such as the Mongols. It culminates in the two world wars of the 20th century and the many regional wars that have followed and continue into the present time. Beautifully illustrated with art, maps and reportage photographs, A History of War is an accessible and authoritative account of warfare and how it has shaped our world. ~