Book Description
Provides a complete, comprehensive overview of the Prequel movies (Episodes I-III) and the Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), this is the definitive photographic guide to the entire Star Wars saga.
Customer Reviews:
The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars.......2007-09-26
This book is extraordinary. The pictures are sharp and extremely detailed. There are explanations of many characters that are only seen in the background scenes. I highly recommend if you're a Star Wars fan. My 4 year old won't give it up.
My Star Wars fanatic loves this book.......2007-09-26
I bought this for my 6 year old who is a Star Wars FREAK. He sat down with this book immediately and has not really stopped looking at it since. He can barely read, but he loves examining all of the characters, and the way they are broken down and labeled is very exciting to him. He likes to see everything that he's seen in the movies, and video game, in full detail.
I can't comment on how this book is similar or different to any other book, but I can say, it's very detailed, it covers a lot of information and describes alot of the relationships and uses of the characters & items. My 6 year old can identify way more than I can. This book is well set up, with loads of information and LOTS AND LOTS of details full color high quality photos which is just what we were looking for.
Good luck!
A Must-Have for any Star Wars fan.......2007-09-21
My son constantly wants to look at this book, and he is only 6 and has never seen any of the movies. That pretty much says how good this book is. I grew up with the original Star Wars movies, so looking through this book is like looking into the past for me. It is well put-together, very concise with a lot of nice photos and a plethora of Star Wars information. An excellent resource for any Star Wars aficionado.
Star Wars is a Five star choice for the ultimate fan.......2007-09-09
This book is just fantastic, and it is worth every penny. I originally bought it for my friends son who loves Star Wars. The kid walked around with the book under his arm like a bible! He never put it down. I recently bought it for my own two elementary age boys and they love it just as much. This is wonderful gift to get for any Star Wars fan -- Once again DK has cornered the market on wonderful visual books for young children. Their books are so well executed and so wonderfully edited, they know exactly how to appeal to this age group by giving just enough information with out making it too simple. An adult fan would actually love this book too. It's a great purchase.
My 9-year-old loves this book!.......2007-09-03
I purchased this book for my 9-year-old son who has been a Star Wars fan for a few years. He has spent hours looking through the book on his own or alongside his friends. I have never seen the movies and I have little knowledge of the people in them, but I could easily learn A LOT from this book if I wanted to. The pictures of the people and tools/weapons are great! I also like the fact that they show pictures from movie scenes that depict the people or the tools being discussed on that particular page. This was a great price for a large hardcover book with great details and pictures!
Book Description
World War II spawned some of the most famous-and infamous-fighting organizations the world has ever known. None was more feared by its battlefield foes or more hated by political enemies of the National Socialist regime than the Waffen-SS. Six decades after the last Waffen-SS unit capitulated or was annihilated, the facts about many aspects of this organization are still shrouded in legend and half-truth. Loathed by many as a criminal organization, yet also respected for the esprit, resolve, and valor of its component units and individuals, the Waffen-SS was unarguably a highly-complex, multi-faceted phenomenon, unique among the military organizations of the world.
Marc Rikmenspoel has crafted the ultimate reference for those trying to understand the intensely controversial and complicated nature of the Waffen-SS. A comprehensive overview that will be useful to historians, buffs, wargamers, and re-enactors alike, no matter what your predisposition to the Waffen-SS, you will learn a great deal from this book. The book includes a concise history of every one of the major fighting formations of the Waffen-SS (those designated as "divisions").
Sections include:
-Formations
— Structure of Divisions
— Germans in the Waffen-SS
— Germanics in the Waffen-SS
— Non-Germans and Non-Germanics in the Waffen-SS
— Leading Personalities
— Weapons
— Misconceptions and Controversies
— Weapons Tables
Supported by 82 photos and extensive, 20-page annotated bibliography.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting and informative - but contains far less than the enthusiastic reviews suggest.......2006-11-24
Marc Rikmenspoel has done an admirable job collating a wealth of information about the Waffen-SS in this volume. Labelling this book an encyclopedia is a bit of a misnomer though as it is far from comprehensive. This book is divided into four major sections (eight chapters). In the first two chapters, MR describes the formations and the organization of the Waffen-SS from the highest levels (SS Panzer Armies) down to batallion sized units and smaller. A brief history of the each of the SS divisions is given along with the names of commanding officers. Virtually all of this information can easily be found elsewhere (like Wikipedia). This is certainly not the `home run' as another reviewer put it. The second section contains detailed descriptions of the diverse national members of the Waffen-SS. This section is divided into two chapters, Germanics and non-Germanics, and is the real meat of this book in my opinion. The Waffen-SS was truly a diverse army and took in men from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. The third section contains short biographical sketches of thirteen famous (or infamous, such as Oskar Dirlewanger) members/officers of the Waffen-SS. The final section contains a brief (15 page) discussion of the weapons of the Waffen-SS and a final chapter that is essentially an apologetic for Waffen-SS war crimes.
Overall, this work is more for popular consumption (or the type of thing that a cadet who is enamored with the image of the victories of the Waffen-SS may be interested in reading), and I suspect that any serious student of WWII will find this book to be little more than a light snack. Despite some of the claims of the other reviewers, this is certainly not a scholarly work, and it is not the kind of work that one will return to again and again for information. This is definitely not an encyclopedia, in spite of the title, there are way too many holes. There are several things that I really disliked about this book. There is no discussion about any of the actual battles, nor is there anything said about the relationship between the Waffen-SS and the higher levels of the SS and/or the political leadership of Germany. I found the final section about the apology for SS war crimes to be particularly egregious, especially for a book that claims to be an encyclopedia. In particular, I think the author does make some good points here, but completely avoids (throughout the entire text really) ALL the complex issues related to the SS's (not just the Waffen-SS) role in implementing Nazi racial policy. A BALANCED view would present both the admirable qualities of the soldiers of the Waffen-SS as well as their crimes. This work is certainly not balanced, and is a virtual hagiography of the exploits and men of the Waffen-SS. This last section makes it clear that MR is trying to ameliorate the image of the Waffen-SS while avoiding uncomfortable truths. There are many positives to this book though. It is well written with a deft prose that is direct and easy to read. As described above, MR does a fine job describing the diverse ethnic/national makeup of the Waffen-SS. There are two additional aspects about this book that make it worth a look. First, at less than 14 dollars (as of 24NOV06) this price is easy on the wallet. Second, the book contains an annotated bibiliography that points the interested reader to other references.
Bottom line - a light snack for a serious student, but may still be a worthwhile addition to your collection (particularly given the price).
Waffen-SS Encyclopedia.......2006-11-06
Not expect from this book an "encyclopedia", is more an "aproximation" to the Waffen-SS world. If you don't look for a detail information it may help you to know units, history, and the flow and ebbs of some personalities and units. A book for beguinners.
A solid resource.......2006-02-25
This book is excellent in breaking down the origin of the Waffen SS units and in providing information on important Waffen personnel. I especially liked how it avoided lumping all the units and all the individuals into a single group. It recognizes the differences between elite combat formations and thugs behind the lines who are commiting genocide. It also recognizes that individuals within a given unit differ in terms of fanaticism and indoctrination. It does not address general German (or European) antisemitism and its role, which is probably better tackled by holocaust books like the excellent Hitler's Willing Executioners. I would have preferred more battle history though. This book goes into extreme detail on the role of Germanics (non-Germans of German racial stock) in the SS, but there is relatively little detail on the key battles. All in all, I would say that this book and The Waffen SS at War are complementary. This book tells about the real people involved very well, but does a poor job with the battle history. Waffen SS at War tells the battle history but does a poor job making the people real, rather than simple demonic Nazi stereotypes.
An amazing reference for World War Two buffs!.......2005-11-11
Marc J. Rikmenspoel's book is one of the most detailed book's available on the Waffen-SS. It gives the background and summary of operations of all divisions, and has outstanding diagrams that outline the structure of early war motorized infantry divisions, panzer divisions, panzer-grenadier divisions, mountain divisions, cavalry divisions, and grenadier (infantry) divisions. It describes both the German and non-German troops of the Waffen-SS, which believe it or not included volunteers from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Belorussia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Hungary, India, Ireland (recruited from the IRA), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, North Caucasus, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine!
This book has a great section on the famous figures of the Waffen-SS and how they influenced it throughout the war. It has a brief section on the Waffen-SS weapons (with helpful photos) that serves as a good introduction to the subject. And finally, perhaps the best part of the book is the "Myths about the Waffen-SS" at the end. This answers questions about common myths about the Waffen-SS, such as whether or not they really possessed superior weaponry to the army. Also, there's a very informative appendix which gives details on the weapons of the Waffen-SS, and the bibliography serves as a great starting point for looking for more information on the Waffen-SS. Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it's written in an easy-to-understand format, making it the perfect book for both experts and beginners. This book is highly recommended to all World War Two buffs.
Great Research Book........2005-06-16
Ok, this is the last review until I finish a few more books.....anyone got any titles, LOL
OK, I found this book really well done and to the point. I would say it is more along the research type of book, as it is NOT a memoir or not really a story.
The chapters cover everything I would want to know about the SS. SS units, weapons used, Bio's on major characters (brief but with good information, and a good read). How the SS DIV were broken down and of course where the Divisions fought, and how they ended the war. One of the chapters covers all the countries that supplied volunteers to the German elite units and has a break down of wounded/killed and what happened to the soldiers at wars end. This is a really good read in my mind.
Most of the photos have not been seen by me. I found myself going back to this book to re-read certain chapters to help explain other books. I know I will be using this book to compliment later books.
Highly recommended as a research book.
Average customer rating:
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International Encyclopedia of Military History (2-Volume Set)
James Bradford
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
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ASIN: 0415936616 |
Book Description
Both multicultural and international in perspective, this A-Z reference covers all aspects of the history of war--on land, sea, and in the air--from the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. to the present day. Besides a full coverage of battles, campaigns, wars, weapons and equipment, military organization, defense systems, and military forces, the entries, ranging from 50 to 4000 words, include social history on the military and society around the world, concepts and terms, maps and other illustrations, and biographies, making this reference the most comprehensive in its field.
Serving both as a standard work of reference on military history and as a study of the evolution of military methods, the set will appeal to both professional historians and amateur military historians as well as enthusiasts of military affairs and the ever-growing constituency of war gamers.
Amazon.com
From the rise of Greece to the fall of Rome, this superbly illustrated volume is a wonderful account of the warriors and battles that dominated Europe and the Near East for more than 1,000 years. The story begins at Troy, drawing upon Homeric legend and modern archaeological evidence. It continues through Greece's Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, Alexander the Great, Rome's Punic Wars, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, and the barbarian invasions. Although John Warry's text is worth reading, the color drawings of uniforms, equipment, weapons, warships, siege engines, and more are the real highlight and make the chronicle extremely accessible. Warfare in the Classical World will excite both readers who have a mature interest in the period and, although it's not a kids' book, children becoming acquainted with ancient history for the first time.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent introduction to ancient warfare.......2007-05-13
This is an excellent introduction to ancient warfare. It is lavishly illustrated, and provides excellent diagrams to support some of the concepts such as how a phalanx of Greek infantry manoevered and then moved into combat. The book covers the technology of the times, but also looks at tactics and gives an overview of the politics that lead to the various conflicts. I would higly recommend this book for beginners in the field of ancient warfare such as myself. My only reservation, is that while the primarary authorities are extensively referenced in the text, I would have liked to see a bibliography (although the glossary is great too!) Highly recommended for beginners or those with a general interest in the topic.
Great Read.......2007-03-29
Loved the book. The sketches and battle tactics illustrated made them come alive for me. Gave me a much better insight into the whole thing. And the delivery was fast, even with free shipping.
The Best Resource Available on Ancient Warfare.......2007-02-09
As I researched the equipment and modes of Greek warfare while writing the historical novel "Maccabee," I consulted numerous excellent sources, but John Warry's book was without a doubt the best. It became my virtual bible for the staging of the battle sequences between the Jews in the Maccabean Revolt and their Syrian enemies who employed the Greek methods that had worked so well for Alexander the Great. Warry's explanations of military techniques in their historical context as well as the wealth of illustrations makes this a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient warfare.
Must have if you are interested in ancient wars.......2006-12-08
I just got this for my son Shawn and I ended up reading it first. I am sure during this X'Mas both of us will want to fight for the book. The pictures and the drawings are of the highest qualities. I love the descriptions of major wars. I just wish that the author has given it more explanation of the drawings for the major battles like adding more legends. Also, it is kind of hard to read/understand the numbers and types of soldiers for both sides on the battlefield. But all in all, this is a great book that I suspect I will read and re-read many times.
All you wanted to know about Greek and Roman Military!.......2006-03-19
This volume contains details of battles, of famous strategic details that are hard to find in other books. There are pages on the uniforms and weaponry along with the organization of the entire armies of the times.
Great Book for the Military Buffs.
Average customer rating:
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Encyclopedia of War and American Society (3-Volume Set)
Manufacturer: Sage Publications, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0761930973 |
Book Description
The impact of war on American society has been extensive throughout our nation’s history. War has transformed economic patterns, government policy, public sentiments, social trends and cultural expression. Â
SAGE Reference is proud to announce the
Encyclopedia of War and American Society. This Encyclopedia is a comprehensive, highly-credentialed multidisciplinary historical work that examines the numerous ways wars affect societies. The three volumes cover a wide range of general thematic categories, issues, and topics that address not only the geopolitical effects of war, but also show how the U.S. engagement in national and international conflicts has affected the social and cultural arena. Â
Key Features
- Explores and analyzes three types of effects of war—direct effects, interactive relationships, and indirect effects—to illustrate the range of connections between war and American society
- Probes the correlations between our wartime expeditions and the experiences of the greater American society not limited to just the war years but also demonstrates how the wartime event impacted society after the conflicts ended
- Offers readers a host of documents including passages from letters, diaries, autobiographies, official documents, novels, poems, songs, and cartoons, as well as images, graphs, and a number of tables of relevant data, surveys, and public opinion polls to extend their research capabilities
- Concentrates mostly on the last 100 years to give more coverage on this often neglected wartime era
Key ThemesÂ
- Arts and Culture
- Civil-Military Relations
- Economy and Labor
- Education (both military and civilian)
- Environment and Health
- Journalism and Media
- Law and Justice
- Military Leaders and Figures
- Planning, Command and Control
- Race, Gender, and Ethnicity
- Religion
- Science and Technology
- Veterans' Issues and Experiences
- The Wars themselves and their civilian and military leaders
The
Encyclopedia of War and American Society is a must-have reference for all academic libraries as well as a welcome addition to any social science reference collection.
Book Description
The result of over five years of exhaustive research into government records, published works, professional contacts, libraries and the internet, this encyclopedia contains everything known about Liberty ships -- every single one of the 2,710 ship built during World War II: who each was named for, where built, when launched, when delivered, type of ship, engine manufacturer, ship operator, wartime history, postwar service, every name they were subsequently known under, what ultimately happened to them -- all cross-referenced and indexed so readers can find any ship they're looking for.
This is truly "the last word" on Liberty ships, and the most complete, including diagrams, specifications, special chapters on the last two Liberty ships still active, and over 400 photos, on high quality stock. It is a reader-friendly book, avoiding codes and setting forth the information in clear language.
Customer Reviews:
The Liberty Ships from A (A.B. Hammond) to Z (Zona Gale).......2007-01-10
I am a huge Naval Ship History enthusiast,and one of the areas of my interest is "Liberty Ships". This book offers specific detail from the minute the keel was laid up to the time and place of the "scrapping of the vessel."
I was looking of a book that described in detail what happened to each Liberty ship after the war.....and this book offers you when it was sold, to what nation, what flag it was flying....and all the name changes that go along with the life to the vessel. I was very impressed with the quality of the book....and to me it was well worth the price. Some may find it expensive, but to me it is a book that will be with me until I am no longer able to gaze upon the print....a treasure is what this book is to me.
Book Description
Warriors have long sought to combine protection and mobility in combat, from ancient chariots to medieval knights and armored wagon. It was the development of the internal combustion engine that allowed a vehicle to possess both features on the battlefield. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles is a definitive guide to over 1500 armored vehicles that have emerged from the first gasoline engine to the present day. In 1916, during World War I, the tank made its debut on the Western Front for the British, and the face of warfare changed almost overnight. In each nation's quest for battlefield dominance, many different types of armored vehicles have been produced, some more successful than others, all of which are covered in the encyclopedia, with each entry being accompanied by a photograph or artwork, full specifications and a development and career history. The book is divided into sections by country, with entries arranged chronologically. A detailed index is provided for easy cross-referencing. With such in-depth coverage of the subject, The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles is an essential reference guide for anyone interested in the history of military vehicles.
Customer Reviews:
very good.......2007-09-21
very good, concise and fairly exhaustive book coverign almost all of the tanks produced in the 20th century. a must have book.
only improvement would have been more on the main sub-versions of each model that was mass produced (i.e. Pz III, IV; sherman, T-34, etc.)
but a great book to own for any military history affecionado
Editing Needed.......2007-09-15
I think this book is good, but it could have been great. It is clear that the editing could have been more rigorous. I have found both technical errors (some of them painfully obvious) and typos in the text. Mediocre editing aside, this book is a good value compared to other reference volumes (Jane's for example). The author does omit some vehicle characteristics that I think should be included (like ground pressure). I hope that future editions will be scrutinized a little more before hitting the press.
Absolutely the best single volume reference on the market!.......2006-03-31
After having purchased hundreds of reference books on AFV's over the years, this is the book I keep going back to the most. From WWI up through modern, the sheer amount of information included is staggering, especially considering it features many designs you will not find in even more focused collections.
As an all-around resource on the subject, it simply can't be beat, if you can locate a copy, grab it while you can, as they are getting harder to find.
Superb work for those interested in classic armor.......2006-02-13
As was indicated in a previous review, if you need up-to-the-minute data on modern Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), this is not the book for you. However, that is just about its only weakness.
This superb volume is ideal for everyone from the casual 'military historian' to avid model builders and those who just want solid information on AFVs of all types from all nations.
Written in a no-nonsense style meant for the layperson, the text is informative and authoritative without being boring or overwhelming. Major design improvements are carefully pointed out, as well as models that fell flat on their tracks (or wheels).
The book is presented in encyclopedia format, with the largest division being country of origin. The AFV designs are then sub-divided into Armored Cars, Tanks, Armored Personnel Carriers and Self-propelled Guns. Each entry includes important data such as armament, weight, speed, crew, year of introduction and major variations. The vast majority of entries include at least one photograph.
As of the writing of this review, I have owned my copy of The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles for slightly less than two years. I need a new one, because this one is worn out.
Whatever the reason behind your interest in AFVs, this book will entrall you. I cannot recommend it highly enough. A must-have for students of World War I and II tanks.
More coffee table than reference.......2005-05-27
I'm a big fan of anything Chris Foss writes, publishes or edits. His facts aren't always spot on - his deadlines for publication obviously have him rush and cut corners. I purchased this book in December 2003 and have spent many hours flipping the pages. Overall - I enjoy owning and reading this book.
If you are a hobbiest, enthusiast or historian of armored vehicles - this book is a lot of fun - filled with enough data of historical development and progression of armored vehicles - from every country imaginable - that you can lose many hours turning the pages.
I do not keep this book at work. As a defense contractor, historical data more than 40 years old is useless to combat simulation modeling (unless we're looking sub-Sahara Africa or Central Asia). There are many other unclassified pocket guides, and books that are more handy to use to identify and collect performance data - and to do my real world computer modeling.
Overall - I enjoy this book for it's historical data - it's a pleasure to read - and "re-discover" obsolete vehicles I used to operate - or commanded units of. Looking back across the years - one wonders what would have happened if I would have met my Soviet counterparts with their T-54/55 and T-62, T-64 or T-72's - with my M-48A3/5s, M-60A1 and M60A3 models.
Buy the book to enjoy and learn the history of every country's armored vehicle development programs. The historical prospective given by this encyclopedia gives one data to strike up conversations with military veterans and counterparts of all nations and compare data. Gives a good foundation to understand the combat results each of these vehicles gave the countries that utilized them in war!
A great (big) book better suited for the coffee table at home than the bookshelf at work.
Customer Reviews:
This book is the Rosetta Stone for gun collectors!.......1998-03-24
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Handguns is a fantastic reference for the avid gun and militaria collector. It is a vast compendium of sketches and illustrations of thousands of handguns from around the world and accross time. It is organized by country of manufacture and includes a brief treatise on the companies referenced. The great value of this book lies in its use as tool to determine the origin of obscure, cryptically marked handguns and rare variations of better known models. The weakness of the book lies in its organization. This tome could benefit from a good cross-referenced index. Nonetheless, it is a work that all serious collectors of this genre should own.
Average customer rating:
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A Dictionary of Military History
John Childs
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0631168486 |
Book Description
From Aeneas Tacitus to Zhukov, this is the most comprehensive dictionary of military history and military science to have been published. It covers those people, battles and campaigns, wars, countries, institutions and weapons that have fundamentally affected the nature and development of warfare. It also has a particular concern with civil-military relations and the role of armed forces in society. From the Hellenic period to the present day, including the questions of chemical and biological weaponry raised in the conflict with Iraq, the dictionary has comprehensive coverage of military history for students, scholars, specialists and general readers alike. Originally published in French under the title Dictionnaire d'Art et d'Histoire Militaires, the new English language edition is expanded and completely revised and updated. All entries now carry full lists of recommended reading, and bibliographies have been thoroughly updated to include the latest literature. Many bibliographical entries have been added, as well as accounts of individual campaigns and battles. A main feature of the book is its broad thematic entries on such topics as naval and air warfare, as well as strategy, ballistics and other specialized topics.
Book Description
For more than 5,000 years, massive empires have met on the battlefield to determine the future course of world history. Ranging from Sumer, the world's first imperial state, to the fall of the Byzantine Empire, this comprehensive three-volume set, which includes both Western and non-Western empires, details the military capabilities of these empires, including the armies, soldiers, technologies, and commanders that powered the imperial juggernaut. From the Near East to Asia, from Western Europe to the New World, these empires spawned every major social institution on which modern society is based, including the first use of total war. With more than 400 illustrations and maps, this set reveals the awesome and destructive power of these early forces, from the dawn of recorded history to the development of gunpowder. Volume I: From the first clashes of the Sumerian Empire in 4000 B.C.E., to the destruction of the Persian Empire, volume one includes all the major imperial entities from Europe to Asia, including the Egyptians, the Hittites, the Israelites; China, India, Persia, and classical Greece. Students will find the historical context within which the empire emerged, an examination of the imperial army, including structure, weapons, tactics, logistics, and manner of warfare; a detailed analysis of at least one major battle; an analysis of the rival commanders; and a section on the lessons of war. Each volume contains more than 100 illustrations, maps, and figures that demonstrate manner of dress, weaponry, imperial location, and course of the battle. Every chapter contains suggestions for further reading. Volume II: Until its destruction by the Romans in 146 B.C.E., Carthage was the primary naval empire of the Mediterranean world. The Norman victory at Hastings in 1066 C.E. was one of the most important events in the Medieval world and resulted in the creation of the modern state of Great Britain. Volume two covers vast territory from Imperial Rome to Korea, including chapters on the Huns, the Arabs, the Barbarians, the Vikings, and the Franks. Students will find the historical context within which the empire emerged, an examination of the imperial army, including structure, weapons, tactics, logistics, and manner of warfare; a detailed analysis of at least one major battle; an analysis of the rival commanders; and a section on the lessons of war. Each volume contains more than 100 illustrations, maps, and figures that demonstrate manner of dress, weaponry, imperial location, and course of the battle. Every chapter contains suggestions for further reading. Volume III: Examining the major events of the Middle Ages, from Europe to the major empires of Asia and the Americas, volume three takes readers from the age of the Medieval knight to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 C.E. Western sections detail the Crusades and the Hundred Years War, while non-Western chapters cover the Japanese, the Mongols and the Ottomans in Asia and the American empires of the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas. Students will find the historical context within which the empire emerged, an examination of the imperial army, including structure, weapons, tactics, logistics, and manner of warfare; a detailed analysis of at least one major battle; an analysis of the rival commanders; and a section on the lessons of war. Each volume contains more than 100 illustrations, maps, and figures that demonstrate manner of dress, weaponry, imperial location, and course of the battle. Every chapter contains suggestions for further reading.
Customer Reviews:
expensive bummer.......2007-08-07
This is a decent survey of ancient warfare. I was very dissappointed due to so many important battles which are missing from the book.
The graphics and maps are POOR quality. For the cost, there should be some color, it should all be printed on higher quality paper, and what is black and white should be of much higher quality.
I found the presentation cumbersome, this is written for upper eschelon military leaders. I spent a long time in the military, I found this to have the feel of arrogant field grade officers' typical approach to report writing, over the academic format I expected.
A lot of important information is lost in translation, and the effort does not feel as though the subjects of the battles which are addressed are appropriately researched or presented.
* for cost
* for quality of paper and graphics
*** for battles that are presented
0* for battles missing
* for historical context presentation
**** for binding
Some Initial Thoughts.......2005-07-12
I received this 3-volume set a few days ago, and have not read it all, roughly about one-fourth of it. It is the kind of reading one can dip into at just about any point, and I have read those sections that I was particularly interested in: the near eastern ancient world up to the Alexander, and the empire of Attila. I wish Amazon had the table of contents posted, as that reflects the structure of the books; essentially, that the author uses important battles as his climaxes, with material on strategy, tactics, logistics, etc leading up to the battle descriptions, which are then followed by a discussion of the commanders involved in the battle.
Importantly, the books cover "empires" and not "kingdoms", except as brief background. So Assyria is not covered directly until it becomes an "empire" in the late 8th century BCE, and Byzantium until its fall seems not to be covered directly at all. Roman history essentially begins with Hannibal's invasion, at which point the author apparently deems Rome has become an empire. Though many battles of the Roman Civil Wars of Caesar and Augustus are covered, the Roman Empire itself is covered rather briefly, with Teutoburger Wald and Adrianople being the only battles discussed in detail for the first four centuries CE. (The author uses the BCE, CE dating notation.) Then Chalons is covered in the section on the Huns.
The discussion of Chalons raises some questions I have about the books. The author gives a detailed blow-by-blow account of the battle, whereas several other scholarly books on the subject state that not enough is known about the battle to permit a reconstruction. Since the author gives nary a footnote stating his rationales anywhere in the three volumes, and does not discuss his reasoning in the text itself, it is impossible to tell whether the author's account of Chalons is based on new research, the author's best guess, or just the author's imagination.
Be that as it may, the text of the book reads very easily; I found myself able to bite off huge chunks of it in rather brief sittings. There are also adequate maps and illustrations, but no index. I did note during the discussion of Gaugamela that the author apparently became confused between the left and right wing of the Persian army, and in the discussion of early Egypt he implied that Palestine is to the west of Egypt. So the books must be read with a bit of care, and in fact do not provide a complete military history from 4000 BCE to 1453 CE, but rather detailed snippets of particular times, which, of course, is just what the author intended.
Books:
- The Cousins' Wars: Religion, Politics, and the Triumph of Anglo-America
- The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme
- The Killer Angels
- The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir
- The Limits of Expertise: Rethinking Pilot Error and the Causes of Airline Accidents
- The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family
- The March: A Novel
- The Matchlock Gun
- The Oxford Illustrated History of the Crusades (Oxford Illustrated Histories)
- The Peninsula and Seven Days: A Battlefield Guide (This Hallowed Ground: Guides to Civil Wa)
Books Index
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