Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact: The Turning Points in Our History We Should Know More About

Description

Alan Axelrod identifies twenty-five small wars that had repercussions far beyond their size. Boudicca's fight against the Romans in Britain, that eventually led to the downfall of the biggest empire of that time; the 2nd Jewish revolt of 132-135 AD, that inadvertently led to the creation of Christianity as a world religion; how Ivan IV made Russia one country, how the Opium Wars increased Chinese distrust and fear of the West, so it is still felt today; the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 that precipitated the First World War that changed the face of the world; and, how the Afghan Civil War led to the rise of the Taliban, the Algerian War in 1815 'the first war on terror' and its terrible backlash, and King Philip's War in 1675 that bankrupt Spain, and cost that country it's position as the most powerful one in the world. Weather inadvertently or not, Axelrod shows the consequences of wars cannot be predicted, and how these conflicts - intended or otherwise - had knock-on effects far beyond their size, and how a small war hundreds of years ago could change history and our world forever.

Alan Axelrod, Ph.D., has had a distinguished career in and out of publishing. He received his doctorate from the University of Iowa. He was a senior editor at Abbeville Press and vice president of Zenda, Inc., a consulting firm to museums and cultural institutions. He was chief acquisitions editor for Turner Publishing, Inc. He has been a creative consultant for (and on-camera personality in) The Wild West television documentary series (Warner Bros., 1993) and Civil War Journal (A&E Network, 1994), and he served as historical consultant for The Discovery Channel.

Midwest Book Review "They changed the world, but you've likely never heard of them. Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact: The Turning Points in Our History We Should Know More About tells the story of unsung wars and their lasting impact on the modern world. From failed rebellions to the United States' first foreign conflict, these wars massively changed the course of history but are usually mentioned briefly in textbooks, if at all. "Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact" is a core addition to military and history collections, enthusiastically recommended." Book News Inc. "This book tells the stories of 18 little-known wars usually left out of mainstream histories. It describes these wars and their effects on nations and individuals, subsequent wars, and alliances and enmities in the present day. Organized chronologically, they include the eighth century war between invading Muslims and defending Spanish Christians; the First and Second Opium Wars; the revolt in 132-35 that prompted the ongoing persecution of Jews; the war between the US and the Barbary Pirates in the early 1800s; the War for Afghan Independence in 1919; and the Mau-Mau Uprising in 1952-1956 in Kenya. Color maps and other illustrations are included. Axelrod has been an editor, creative consultant, and historical consultant, and is the author of many books on history and military history." Bookviews "I have long believed that history largely consists of the many wars of mankind and this is confirmed in an excellent new book, Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact by Alan Axelrod. That may qualify as one of the longest titles of any new book this year! The author has had a long, distinguished career in and out of publishing and a consultant to television documentaries. He takes the reader on a fascinating tour that include what he calls the "first Holocaust", the battle when Simon bar Kokhba initiated a rebellion against Rome, triggering a response that cost the lives of many Jews living in Israel from 132-135 BC. Other wars cited include the first wars of terror, the Barbary pirates versus the United States, and the Meji Rebellion in Japan. There are many interesting chapters that recount wars that often are not taught in schools and colleges, but which shaped history, ancient and modern."