Matchlocks to Flintlocks: Warfare in Europe and Beyond

Condition - Very Good
The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and functions properly. Item may arrive with damaged packaging or be repackaged. It may be marked, have identifying markings on it, or have minor cosmetic damage. It may also be missing some parts/accessories or bundled items.

Matchlocks to Flintlocks: Warfare in Europe and Beyond 1500–1700

In the early modern world three dominant cultures of war were shaped by a synergy of their internal and external interactions. One was Latin Christian western Europe. Another was Ottoman Islam. The third, no less vital for so often being overlooked, was eastâ€“central Europe: Poland/Lithuania, Livonia, Russia, the freebooting Cossacks, a volatile mix of variations on a general Christian theme.

William Urbanâ€™s fascinating narrative is an integrated account of early modern war at the sharp end: of campaigns and battles, soldiers and generals. Temporally it extends from the French invasion of Italy in 1494 to Austriaâ€™s Balkan victories culminating in the 1718 Treaty of Peterwardein. Geographically it covers ground from the Low Countries to the depths of the Ukraine.

That narrative in turn focuses Urbanâ€™s major analytical points: the replacement of â€˜crowd armiesâ€™ by professionals, and the professionalsâ€™ integration into crown armies: government-supervised, bureaucratized institutions. The key to this process was the mercenary. Originally recruited because the obligations of feudal levies were too limited, mercenary forces evolved operationally into skilled users of an increasingly complex gunpowder technology in ever more complex tactical situations. By the end of the seventeenth century, soldiers were identifying with the states and the rulers they served.

Country	USA
Author	William Urban
Binding	Kindle Edition
EISBN	9781781599433
Format	Kindle eBook
Label	Frontline Books
Manufacturer	Frontline Books
NumberOfPages	304
PublicationDate	2011-12-13
Publisher	Frontline Books
ReleaseDate	2013-08-16
Studio	Frontline Books

Matchlocks to Flintlocks: Warfare in Europe and Beyond 1500–1700

You might also like...