European Warfare, 1494-1660

Description

The onset of the Italian Wars in 1494, subsequently seen as the onset of 'modern warfare', provides the starting point for this impressive survey of European Warfare in early modern Europe. Huge developments in the logistics of war combined with exploration and expansion meant interaction with extra-European forms of military might. Jeremy Black looks at technological aspects of war as well social and political developments and effects during this key period of military history. This sharp and compact analysis contextualises European developments as well as establishing the global significance of events in Europe. Jeremy Black departs from recent works on military history in giving due weight to the operational character and military dynamic of war. This text, handling a long chronological period with a broad geographical range, not only offers an excellent summary of early-modern European warfare, but is a thought-provoking survey that will

'One of the great strengths of the book ... derives from this expansive coverage of the time period. While the title clearly indicates that the focus is on European warfare, Black spends considerable time discussing both naval developments and the expansion of Europe's influence overseas. This exposure offers Black the opportunity to apply his theory to a broad range of topics, giving it a depth that the Military Revolution thesis seems to lack'. - Sixteenth Century Journal