Warfare and Culture in World History, Second Edition

Ideas matter in warfare, and culture informs the battlefield. Warfare and Culture in World History, Second Edition, is a collection of essays that analyze warfare through a cultural lens, including case studies of how culture shaped military institutions and battlefield choices.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2020
Publisher: New York University Press

Ideas play a crucial role in warfare, as they determine the timing, location, and methods of warfare. In the past, military historians approached warfare solely from a rational perspective, but in recent decades, there has been a growing emphasis on understanding how societies
societies conceptualize war, weapons, violence, and military service to assess how culture influences the battlefield.

Warfare and Culture in World History, Second Edition, is a compilation of insightful and thought-provoking essays that explore warfare through a cultural lens. These curated pieces build upon traditional scholarship on war and society by employing sophisticated cultural analysis. The chapters in this book cover a wide range of topics, including an organizational analysis of American Civil War field armies, a study of military culture in late Republican Rome, and discussions within Ming Chinese officialdom about extermination versus pacification.

In addition to a revised and expanded introduction, the second edition of Warfare and Culture in World History now includes new chapters on the role of herding in shaping Mongol strategies, Spanish military culture and its effects on the conquest of the New World, and the blending of German and East African military cultures among Africans who served in the German colonial army. This volume offers a comprehensive range of case studies that demonstrate how culture, whether societal, strategic, organizational, or military, can shape not only military institutions but also actual battlefield choices.

By examining the interplay between culture and warfare, this book provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of historical conflicts and the ways in which cultural factors influenced the outcomes of battles. It challenges traditional narratives and encourages a more nuanced understanding of the role of culture in shaping the course of human history. Whether you are a scholar, student, military professional, or simply interested in history, Warfare and Culture in World History, Second Edition, is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper appreciation of the complex relationship between culture and warfare.

Weight: 566g
Dimension: 154 x 229 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479862436