The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare: The Triumph of the West (Cambridge Illustrated Histories)

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.

Outstanding history book that logically explains the Western Way of Warfare and how it came to dominate the globe. Its definitely worth the few extra $$ to get the illustrations, as they both further explain concepts, and are interesting/entertaining.

First a pet peeve - why is it necessary to make a book glossy from cover to cover forcing the reader to heft over 3 pounds every time he or she reads it? I have never had my arm muscles ache as much as with this 400 page book!Ok, on to content.This book is a comprehensive look at the way men have gone to battle since the rise of the West in ancient Greece. Using detailed diagrams when necessary, the reader can see how manpower was deployed and how weapons were used.Particularly interesting to me were the diagrams of the Greek phalanx and the Roman centuries, examples of the discipline and technique that along with technology helped the West to defeat opponents. Did you know that a major factor in the success of Alexander the Great was the ability of his troops to carry all they needed thus avoiding a long supply line and crowd of camp followers?This book is filled with insightful commentary on why armed conflicts turned out the way they did. Why was the huge Spanish Armada defeated by the relatively insignificant (at the time) English Navy? What was the Needlegun and why did it give the Prussians an advantage? How did Cortez with just a few hundred Spaniards defeat tens of thousands of Aztecs?The tide of battle can be turned by weather, by leadership or the lack thereof, by technology and other factors. You will find yourself on an informative march through over 2000 years of conflict up to the 1991 war in Iraq. On finishing this book, I wondered how the Bush directed "war of choice" in 2003 would be seen by such a history as this.As one would expect, more recent wars are treated in more detail with excellent accounts of WW1 and WW2. Happily, the book doesn't get bogged down in detailed maps of tactical movements of armies on the field unless it aids in making the reader aware of some new battlefield technique. Likewise, there are no long discussions of particular weapons. The goal is always to ask - how did things change and why?Provided you work out at the gym to build up your biceps for this brick of a book, I think you will be rewarded by the fact packed, concise writing supported with excellent illustrations. In war, victory or defeat can happen as a result of unpredictable factors but, over time, superior practices and technologies have a telling effect. The persistent rise of the West was no accident. Read this book to find out how it happened.

Would suggest a more suitable box to size of book or add a little cushion in box to prevent soft cover books from hitting sides of oversized box for ware but did arrive way ahead of schedule and in great condition

Good articles, interesting related pictures. Not necessarily a cover to cover read but a great reference or quick bathroom book.

Well written textbook about wars that took place in the western world.

It is just ok...I needed this book for school and it met the requirements..Now I need to sell it. Anyone want to buy it? LOLGood information in the book...but of course, I didnt read it all.

Anyone interested in Military history, or history in general, this is a great read.