War in European History

In "War in European History", distinguished British military historian Michael Howard provides a concise and fascinating survey of European conflict from roughly the Fall of Rome to the end of the Second World War. This book was first published in 1976 and has been provided with a new afterword for the 2009 edition. In brisk, well-written chapters, Howard explores the contributions to European warfare of the Knights, the Mercenaries, the Merchants, the Professionals, the Revolution, the Nations, and the Technologists. Along the way, he examines the ways in which political movements, growing economic wealth, more effective governments, and more lethal technology interacted to change the nature of European wars. In a sense, Howard's book has two endings. In the first, the devastation of the world wars and the rise of the Soviet Union and United States by 1945 seemingly ended the role of Europe as the military and political center of the global system. After 1945, the lethality of nuclear weapons seemed to make another major European war all but unthinkable. However, in his updated epilogue, Howard acknowledges that conflict within the global system, of which Europe is a part, will almost inevitably require European participation in future wars. At a brief 144 pages, "War in European History" can be no more than a survey, even if brillantly written. Details have inevitably been slighted in favor of larger trends. Howard is admittedly a specialist in European military history; others may reasonably disagree with, for example, his estimate of the adaptibility of the American military. However, as an introduction to a major theme of military history, "War in European History" is hard to beat and very highly recommended.

This book is a wonderful overview (much like a grand essay), with insight in abundance. It is for works like this that the Kindle highlight button has great utility. It is a book to be savored, read again, and ruminated on. The "Further Reading" is a trove. I've always doubted the wisdom of WWII's Casablanca edict: "unconditional surrender", and, after this reading experience, even more so. Perhaps, we are all knights errant. Aren't we readers lucky that Michael Howard knows his way around a library?

This book was perfectly phenomenal. In 144 pages, Howard packed in so much, without making it appear over-packed. 1,000 years of warfare, with all the attendant strategies, tactics, and developments, are presented in a readable and thorough fashion, without coming across as simplistic or factoid laden. Howard finished the book in 2001 (I'm thinking in the pre-9/11 2001) and in the last page he nailed some of the major issues the world would be dealing with in the early stages of the 21st century. First, he properly casts doubt on the Revolution in Military Affairs approach (doubt, mind you, and not a complete discard); second, he recognizes the likely rise of terrorism; and third, he points out that troops will be taking on far more than conventional battle missions, which will come to include peacekeeping, counterinsurgency warfare, and a host of other previously difficult to imagine military missions.

A friend of mine recommended this book to me. At the time it was required reading at West Point and it very well may still be. No other book displays the history of war in Europe in such a concise and complete way. It also shows how the nations of Europe developed and what gave them thier defining characteristics. Anyone with an interest in Western history or military history should own a copy of this book.

A very good, very quick military history overview - hits all the main points without belaboring any, gives the reader a good list of authors to look at after finishing Howard.