Throughout the centuries, war has continuously and violently transformed the social, political, and religious life of people. Every society and culture forges and strengthens through its war narratives a sense of common destiny for the past, present, and future, and the way a community perceives a past conflict can have profound and tragic consequences. Jeremy Black studies war as a global phenomenon and not as a mere sequence of military leaders, battle tactics, or weapon improvements. He offers an exceptionally comprehensive overview, spanning from Han China to Assyria, from Mesopotamia to Troy, from imperial Rome to Napoleonic France, from Vietnam and Afghanistan to Ukraine. "Jeremy Black has managed to condense a vast and complex subject into an exceptionally comprehensive and authoritative book, approaching global history while avoiding clichés, fully describing the diversity of war across the span of human history." Prof. Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny "An excellent overview of the history of war. Highly recommended for anyone wishing to understand the evolution of war across the globe, from prehistory to the present day." Prof. Heather Jones, Royal College of London "A truly global overview, with truly admirable condensation!" Prof. Gary Sheffield, Wolverhampton University