What is Military History? (E-Book) von Stephen Morillo

1 An Introduction to Military History 1

Military History: Defi nitions, Topics, Scope 3

Who Studies Military History and Why? 5

Overview of this Book 9

2 Military Historiography 11

Classical Roots: Military History in Ancient Times 12

Military History in the Traditional World: Histories, Manuals, and War Tales 21

Science, Nationalism, and General Staffs: Military History in the Nineteenth and

Early Twentieth Centuries 30

New Military Histories: The Transformations of the Last 50 Years 37

3 Conceptual Frameworks 45

Military History and Philosophy of History 46

Military Art and Practice 55

War and Society: Interdisciplinary Infl uences 64

Global History and Comparative Methodology 70

Conclusions 74

4 Current Controversies 75

Military Revolutions 77

Counter-Insurgency: History and Policy 86

"The West": Exceptionalism and Dominance? 89

War, Society, and Culture: Other Controversies 96

Conclusion: Revisionism and Reading the Process of History 102

5 Doing Military History 105

Forms 105

Sources 110

Programs 113

Journals, Presses, and Associations 115

6 The Future of Military History 118

Trends in the Field 119

The Politics of Military History 122

Notes 125

Further Reading 139

Index 155

The history of military history, showing how it has developed from ancient times to the present; The key ideas and concepts that shape analysis of military activity; it argues that military history is as methodologically and philosophically sophisticated as any field of history; The current controversies about which military historians argue, and why they are important; A survey of who does military history, where it is taught and published, and how it is practiced; A look at where military history is headed in the future.

The new edition ofWhat is Military History?provides an up-to-date bibliography and cutting edge new case studies, including counterinsurgency, and as such continues to be ideal for classes in military history and in historiography generally, as well as for anyone interested in learning more about the dynamics of a rich and growing area of study.

MICHAEL PAVKOVICis Professor of Strategy and Policy at the United States Naval War College.