The aim of this book is to introduce readers to a wide range of military history that includes all the drama, dangers, horrors, and excitement associated with battles like Stalingrad or the Somme. Battles are acute moments in history, wherever they have been fought. Through them, we can understand how war and global history have evolved.
Selecting only 100 battles from recorded human history is a challenge. Not only because it is necessary to cover almost 6,000 years of history, but also because people have fought almost continuously for thousands of years. Each of the 100 memorable battles described shows how the nature of armed conflict has changed throughout human history, and how, despite changes in technology and organization, many aspects remain the same.
Many battles led to victories, yet the victors did not necessarily win the war. The battles presented here are decisive in a broader historical context. As we go back in time, it is more likely for an opponent to be eliminated by a single move. Wars of the modern era, between major states, have included repeated battles until one side submits.
Some of the great strategists of the recent past, such as Napoleon and Robert E. Lee, have found themselves on the losing side, yet are still remembered for their strategy. On the other hand, many who won are erased from the history books or public memory. Many battles reveal more about the history of war, rather than victory or defeat. New weapons, tactics, and ways of organizing armed forces can affect the outcome of a battle, as can leadership or inventiveness.
For this reason, the book is divided into clear themes that apply equally to the battles of ancient times and modern ones.
As Professor Richard Overy laments: “Battle is not a game that can be connected to a computer, but a piece of living history, mixed, bloody, and real. That, at least, has not changed for 6,000 years.”
