Key battles have shaped history since time immemorial. This handy reference work spotlights 100 of the world's most important military confrontations, from 1469 B.C.–A.D. 1991.
· Describes the historical context and goals of each conflict, with detailed statistics and information on every aspect of each battle
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In this well-researched compendium, Davis examines battles that have had far-reaching historical consequences. The first entry covers the Battle of Megiddo, which delivered unto the Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose III an uneasy dominion over Palestine and broadened his empire into Asia; the final entry, set not far from the first, describes the Allied victory over Iraq in Desert Storm, which "denied control of a large portion of the Middle East oil reserves to dictator Saddam Hussein and showed the ability of a multinational coalition to succeed in the post-Cold War world, perhaps setting an example of future international military action." In between Davis considers similarly fateful but often forgotten contests, such as the Battle of Chalons, when another coalition--this one of Visigoths, Romans, and Gallic and Germanic tribes--turned back the huge Mongol army of Attila in A.D. 451, and the Battle of Shanhaikuan, when, in the spring of 1644, China's Ming dynasty fell to Manchu invaders. Davis sometimes prefers sweeping themes to mundane realities (the fact, for instance, that the Battle of Adrianople turned on the recent invention of the stirrup), and his compendium tends heavily toward Europe at the expense of other parts of the world. The illustrations are also of uneven quality and usefulness.
Still, readers with an interest in military history will find this to be a handy reference and overview, and they'll enjoy second-guessing the author, nominating battles that didn't make his hundred while learning from the obscure, but nonetheless critical, ones that he does address. --Gregory McNamee
The historical context of the conflict, the countries involved, and their goals
A description of the battle plan, the action, and the winner
Name and date of the battle, the commanders, the size of their forces, and their casualties
How history was affected by the outcome of the battle The battles were chosen because they brought about important political or social changes or had the potential to do so, or marked a major turning point in warfare. A sampling of the conflicts:
546 B.C.—Thymbra. Cyrus's defeat of Lydians leads to the creation of the Persian Empire.
A.D. 451—Châlons. Attila's defeat marks the end of Hun power.
1099—Jerusalem. Crusader victory brings European rule to the Holy Land.
1276—Hangchow. Establishes Mongol Yuan Dynasty in China.
1346—Crécy. Ends dominance of cavalry in land warfare.
1532—Cajamarca. Defeat of the Incas solidifies Spanish power in Central America.
1847—Mexico City. Establishes U.S. dominance in North America.
1940—Battle of Britain. Saves England from German invasion.
1954—Dien Bien Phu. Ends French colonial presence in Southeast Asia.
1968—Tet Offensive. Turning point in U.S. effort in Vietnam.
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