Routledge Handbook of the Global History of Warfare

‘This is a superlative collection, bringing together some of the finest minds in the field. The essays offer both range and depth, and anyone interested in the history of war from a global perspective will want to have this volume on their bookshelves.’
Richard Reid, Professor of African History, University of Oxford 
‘A collection of great importance not only to military historians but also to those interested in global history. Conceptually alert, this volume deserves much attention.’
Jeremy Black, Emeritus Professor, Exeter University

‘In 35 chapters written by distinguished and established historians the Handbook explores warfare from the agrarian Bronze Age through to the challenges of contemporary, ‘postmodern’ conflict. The perspective is uncompromisingly global, and offers remarkable scope for comparative analysis and understanding. The volume is an invaluable and indispensable work for all military historians.’
David Parrott, Professor of Early Modern History, University of Oxford 
‘This timely compendium, drawing on an impressive mix of established and emerging scholars, provides insights into the conduct and character of wars on a global scale, stretching from the earliest recorded conflicts to the postcolonial and postindustrial conflicts of today. It will quickly become a valuable platform for further scholarship.’
Douglas M. Peers, Professor of History, University of Waterloo

Introduction: The Evolution of Warfare: Global Perspectives  Part I: Origins of Warfare  1. The Evolution of Bronze Age Warfare, and its Historical Significance in Western Eurasia and the Near East  2. War, Captive-Taking, and Warriors in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica  3. Indigenous Warfare in Australia and New Zealand  Part II: Polities and Armed Forces in the Pre-modern Era  4. Assyrian Warfare, 1550-609 BCE  5. The Polis and the Emergence of Hoplite Warfare  6. Transition from Roman to Merovingian Warfare: The Long Fifth Century  7. New Approaches to Late Imperial Chinese Warfare  8. Warfare in Precolonial Africa  Part III: Steppe Nomads of Eurasia  9. The European Huns  10. Arab-Byzantine Warfare: 660 CE-1040 CE  11. Crusading Armies and the Turks in the Middle East  12. The Limits of Mongol Military Power  13. The Cycle of Empire in Central Asia: The Frontier and Beyond  Part IV: Naval Warfare and Piracy in the Pre-Industrial World  14. The Egyptian Origins of Amphibious Warfare: Out of Africa  15. China’s Pirate Wars, 1522-1810  16. Rise of British Naval Power in the Indian Ocean  Part V: The Impact of Gunpowder  17. Economy and Gunpowder Weapons in Western and Central Europe  18. Gunpowder and the Rise of Muscovy: Circa 1200--circa 1800  19. Smallpox and War in America  20. Gunpowder and the North American Indian Way of War  21. Firearms and Maritime Gunpowder States of Asia  Part VI: Transition from Industrial to Total War  22. Napoleon and Mass Warfare  23. The American Civil War and the Beginning of Total War?  24. The British Army, 1870-1918: From Small War to Trench War  25. Theory and Practice of Armoured War during the Two World Wars  26. Race and Conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region: 1941-1945  27. Modern Naval Warfare: 1815-2000  28. Strategic Air Power in the Two World Wars  Part VII: Wars of Decolonisation and Cold War  29. Warfare in the Middle East since 1945  30. Wars of Decolonisation in South Asia: The Indian Army, 1945-47  31. The Falklands Conflict: The Last British Imperial War?  Part VIII: Postmodern/New Wars  32. The Global War on Terror: The American Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq  33. Private Military Contractors and Conflicts in the New Millennium  34. The Arms Race in Contemporary East Asia  35. Employment of Air Power in Fourth Generation Warfare: An Indian Perspective

Kaushik Roy is Guru Nanak Chair Professor in the Department of History, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. He specialises in warfare in Eurasia and is currently associated with the ‘Warring with Machines’ Project of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Norway.
Michael W. Charney is Professor of Asian and Military History at SOAS, University of London, where he teaches the history of violence, cities and the emergence of the contemporary world. His work mainly focuses on Southeast Asia and Africa.