Encyclopedia of Wars - 3 Volume Set

Encyclopedia of Wars, 3-Volume Set
by Charles Phillips

Synopsis:
The first reference work of its kind, Encyclopedia of Wars describes not only the military aspect of wars--the causes of conflict, an enumeration of battles, and a summary of the outcome(s)--but also the social and political context in which the wars occurred. From the Crusades to the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War, this three-volume encyclopedia covers every major war, rebellion, and revolution from the third millennium BCE to the present. In three comprehensive volumes and approximately 2,000 A-to-Z entries, this definitive resource provides more thorough, complete coverage than any other encyclopedia. Each entry provides an at-a-glance look at the war in question and a narrative discussion of the war, examining its social context, major battles and events, and broader significance in cultural and historical terms.

Book News Annotation:
Each of the 2,000 alphabetically-arranged entries begins with a boxed summary of principal combatants, principal theater(s), declaration, major issues and objectives, outcome, approximate number of men under arms (we'll assume women are included in counts where appropriate), casualties, and treaties. The narrative that follows--a paragraph or two for minor conflicts and several pages or more for the bigger ones--includes the social and political contexts as well as details of the fighting. The aim in this three-volume set is not an elusive comprehensiveness but rather a representation of wars throughout history, beginning with classical and medieval times and extending to the present. A slightly greater emphasis is placed on North American conflicts, because the intended readership--students, teachers, and the general public--is primarily American. Suggestions for further reading follow each entry, and a general bibliography is included in the final volume. Numerous cross-reference, 60 maps, and a chronology round out the encyclopedia. Phillips and Axelrod, seasoned authors and editors, were joined by seven distinguished historians who either contributed or reviewed the work, which took a decade to prepare.

http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9780816028511