Empires at War [3 volumes]: A Chronological Encyclopedia - Hardcover

Gabriel, Richard A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313332150 ISBN 13: 9780313332159

Publisher: Greenwood Press, 2004

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review:

"Gabriel's ambitious encyclopedia examines the military aspects of empires at war from the ancient world through the late medieval period....Entries are written in highly readable, engaging style, clearly outlining how tactics and leadership styles were applied in particular battles. The most interesting component is the one-page summary after each entry outlining the tactical and strategic lessons of the battle. The length of entries may make this set more appropriate for a circulating collection, but a comprehensive index makes information easily accessible and therefore useful in reference. Recommended. General readers; undergraduates."-Choice

"[P]rovides an extensive examination of the military capabilities and activities of important military forces....[r]ecommended for students and researchers at the secondary and university level as well as general readers."-Reference & User Services Quarterly

"Few reference tools equal the depth of this title for either ancient or medieval warfare. The level of detail that Gabriel provides in his analyses would serve a military studies program. However, this set, which is accessible to the general reader, will be in demand in both academic and public libraries."-Lawrence Looks at Books

"[T]his is a very comprehensive work that delivers the content. Many reference works deal with battles of antiquity or with the great empires of the world, but this encyclopedia manages to combine these concepts with ease and makes for captivating reading. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of warfare and for undergraduate and large public libraries."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

"Military history collections as well general history holdings will easily find a place for Richard A. Gabriel's weighty 3-volume reference Empires at War: for over 5,000 years empires have battled to determine te course of world history, and this encyclopedia survey details their military might, using a A-Z chronological approach to chart the first clashes of war to modern times."-MBR Internet Bookwatch

"İP¨rovides an extensive examination of the military capabilities and activities of important military forces....İr¨ecommended for students and researchers at the secondary and university level as well as general readers."-Reference & User Services Quarterly

"İT¨his is a very comprehensive work that delivers the content. Many reference works deal with battles of antiquity or with the great empires of the world, but this encyclopedia manages to combine these concepts with ease and makes for captivating reading. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of warfare and for undergraduate and large public libraries."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

?[P]rovides an extensive examination of the military capabilities and activities of important military forces....[r]ecommended for students and researchers at the secondary and university level as well as general readers.?-Reference & User Services Quarterly

?Few reference tools equal the depth of this title for either ancient or medieval warfare. The level of detail that Gabriel provides in his analyses would serve a military studies program. However, this set, which is accessible to the general reader, will be in demand in both academic and public libraries.?-Lawrence Looks at Books

?[T]his is a very comprehensive work that delivers the content. Many reference works deal with battles of antiquity or with the great empires of the world, but this encyclopedia manages to combine these concepts with ease and makes for captivating reading. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of warfare and for undergraduate and large public libraries.?-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

About the Author:

RICHARD A. GABRIEL is former professor of Politics and History and Director of Advanced Courses in the Department of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College where he introduced the study of ancient military history to the curriculum. He is the author of 38 books including Subotai the Valiant: Genghis Khan's Greatest General (Praeger, 2004) and The Military History of Ancient Israel (Praeger, 2003). Currently he is retired and an adjunt professor of Humanities and Ethics at Daniel Webster College.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwood Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0313332150
• ISBN 13: 9780313332159
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1050