Medieval Sieges & Siegecraft

Medieval Sieges & Siegecraft PDF Author: Geoffrey Hindley
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 1602396337
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 193

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Book Description
From Jericho to Troy, medieval Europe knew siege warfare as a tradition of antiquity. Long before the advent of city culture, rivaling civilizations had relied on siege tactics as a means of taking over fortified palaces, temples, and defensive walls. But the dawn of the medieval period brought the "golden age" of siege warfare, as the proliferation of formalized cities made siege tactics the ideal choice from a militaristic standpoint. In Medieval Sieges & Siegecraft, Geoffrey Hindley looks at the subject from every angle. He traces the development of strong points, castles, and fortified towns and considers the architects and masons who built them; describes the problems of medieval logistics and food supply that confronted both sides during a siege (and which often decided the outcome); and pens vivid portraits of the machinery of warfare--from towers, mines, trebuchets, and mangonels to boiling oil and Greek fire; and considers the parts played by women and camp followers in battle. With the support of fifty illustrations printed throughout the text, Hindley shows siege tactics in action through real-life case studies of famous sieges that changed the course of history in medieval Europe and the Holy Land. A definitive account of an often overlooked portion of military history, this stimulating and accessible study will be fascinating reading for medieval specialists and for anyone who is interested in the history of warfare. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Medieval Sieges & Siegecraft

Medieval Sieges & Siegecraft PDF Author: Geoffrey Hindley
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 1602396337
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 193

Get Book Here

Book Description
From Jericho to Troy, medieval Europe knew siege warfare as a tradition of antiquity. Long before the advent of city culture, rivaling civilizations had relied on siege tactics as a means of taking over fortified palaces, temples, and defensive walls. But the dawn of the medieval period brought the "golden age" of siege warfare, as the proliferation of formalized cities made siege tactics the ideal choice from a militaristic standpoint. In Medieval Sieges & Siegecraft, Geoffrey Hindley looks at the subject from every angle. He traces the development of strong points, castles, and fortified towns and considers the architects and masons who built them; describes the problems of medieval logistics and food supply that confronted both sides during a siege (and which often decided the outcome); and pens vivid portraits of the machinery of warfare--from towers, mines, trebuchets, and mangonels to boiling oil and Greek fire; and considers the parts played by women and camp followers in battle. With the support of fifty illustrations printed throughout the text, Hindley shows siege tactics in action through real-life case studies of famous sieges that changed the course of history in medieval Europe and the Holy Land. A definitive account of an often overlooked portion of military history, this stimulating and accessible study will be fascinating reading for medieval specialists and for anyone who is interested in the history of warfare. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

The Medieval Siege

The Medieval Siege PDF Author: Jim Bradbury
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 9780851153575
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 386

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Book Description
In medieval warfare, the siege predominated: for every battle, there were hundreds of sieges. Yet the rich and vivid history of siege warfare has been consistently neglected. Jim Bradbury's panoramic survey takes the history of siege warfare in Europe from the late Roman Empire to the 16th century, and includes sieges in Byzantium, Eastern Europe and the areas affected by the Crusades. Within this broad sweep of time and place, he finds, not that enormous changes occurred, but that the rules and methods of siege warfare remained remarkably constant. Included are detailed studies of some of the major sieges including Constantinople and Chateau-Gaillard. Throughout, Bradbury supports his narrative with chronicles and letters. irst-hand accounts of danger, famine and endurance bring the acute reality of siege warfare clearly before the reader.

Medieval Siege Warfare

Medieval Siege Warfare PDF Author: Christopher Gravett
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781841765310
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description


Sieges of the Middle Ages

Sieges of the Middle Ages PDF Author: Philip Warner
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1844152154
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 239

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Book Description
In the Middle Ages the castle was an important military and administrative centre, essentially utilitarian in its design and in the purposes it served. Because it played so central a role in medieval history, and because the wealth of material is so great, the author has concentrated on English seiges undertaken in the period from the Norman Conquest to the War of the Roses. This includes many dramatic actions fought on the continental dominions of the English Crown such as Chateau Gaillard and Rouen. Drawing from contemporary records and his own inpsection of sites, Philip Warner's narrative explores the skills of the architect, the engineer and the miner, as well as the courage of troops and their commanders.

The Art of Siege Warfare and Military Architecture from the Classical World to the Middle Ages

The Art of Siege Warfare and Military Architecture from the Classical World to the Middle Ages PDF Author: Michael Eisenberg
Publisher: Oxbow Books
ISBN: 1789254094
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description
The papers in this book present, for the first time, the world of warfare, both defensive and offensive, from the Classical periods to end of the Middle Ages in one collection. These scholarships have attracted ancient writers and generals and nowadays historians, archaeologists and researchers poliorcetics. Military historiography and ancient manuals are well familiar from the Classical period throughout the Hellenistic great battlefields until the end of the Middle Ages, the chronological scope of this codex. The current book is the first to encompass this long array of time while trying to enrich the reader with the continuity, development and regression in the different periods and spheres of the ancient poliorcetics and beyond; the papers presented here are focusing on the physical fortifications, besieging and defense techniques, development and efficiency of ancient projectiles and sieging machinery, battlefields and the historiographical evidence. The X papers of the book, are written by some of the best scholars in their field, presenting here for the first time the results of their research, in the west and in the east.

The Medieval City Under Siege

The Medieval City Under Siege PDF Author: Ivy A. Corfis
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 9780851157566
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 314

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Book Description
These studies of medieval military history examine the topic of siege warfare, exploring the urban milieu within which it developed, and the evolution of siege technology up to the advent of gunpowder weaponry.

A History of the Early Medieval Siege, C. 450-1220

A History of the Early Medieval Siege, C. 450-1220 PDF Author: Peter Fraser Purton
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
ISBN: 1843834480
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 568

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Book Description
Byblos, Lebanon: An early twelfth-century crusader castle with donjon. --Book Jacket.

Castles, Battles, & Bombs

Castles, Battles, & Bombs PDF Author: Jurgen Brauer
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226071650
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 425

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Book Description
Castles, Battles, and Bombs reconsiders key episodes of military history from the point of view of economics—with dramatically insightful results. For example, when looked at as a question of sheer cost, the building of castles in the High Middle Ages seems almost inevitable: though stunningly expensive, a strong castle was far cheaper to maintain than a standing army. The authors also reexamine the strategic bombing of Germany in World War II and provide new insights into France’s decision to develop nuclear weapons. Drawing on these examples and more, Brauer and Van Tuyll suggest lessons for today’s military, from counterterrorist strategy and military manpower planning to the use of private military companies in Afghanistan and Iraq. "In bringing economics into assessments of military history, [the authors] also bring illumination. . . . [The authors] turn their interdisciplinary lens on the mercenary arrangements of Renaissance Italy; the wars of Marlborough, Frederick the Great, and Napoleon; Grant's campaigns in the Civil War; and the strategic bombings of World War II. The results are invariably stimulating."—Martin Walker, Wilson Quarterly "This study is serious, creative, important. As an economist I am happy to see economics so professionally applied to illuminate major decisions in the history of warfare."—Thomas C. Schelling, Winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Economics

A History of the Late Medieval Siege, 1200-1500

A History of the Late Medieval Siege, 1200-1500 PDF Author: Peter Fraser Purton
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 1843834499
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 550

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Book Description
The first book of a two-volume history of siege warfare and techniques in Europe and the Middle and Far East covering the period 450-1500. --

Siege Warfare During the Crusades

Siege Warfare During the Crusades PDF Author: Michael S. Fulton
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1526718677
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 583

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Book Description
An extensive study of the strategy and technology employed by the Franks and Muslims as they fought each other in the Holy Land. Sieges played a key role in the crusades, but they tend to be overshadowed by the famous battles fought between the Franks and the Muslims, and no detailed study of the subject has been published in recent times. So, Michael Fulton’s graphic, wide-ranging, and thought-provoking book is a landmark in the field. Fulton examines the history of siege warfare in the Holy Land from every angle—the tactics and technology, the fortifications, the composition of the opposing armies, and the ways in which sieges shaped Frankish and Muslim strategy at each stage of the conflict. The differences and similarities between the Eastern and Western traditions are explored, as is the impact of the shifting balance of power in the region. The conclusions may surprise some readers. Neither the Muslims nor the Franks possessed a marked advantage in siege technology or tactics, their fortifications reflected different purposes and an evolving political environment, and, although there were improvements in technologies and fortifications, the essence of siege warfare remained relatively consistent. Essential reading for medieval and military historians. “A lavishly illustrated text full of original photographs of sites, many of which are inaccessible and hard to find images of, guides the reader through the strategies, tactics and weaponry of offense and defense in the Latin East.” —The Society for Medieval Archaeology “This is a book you will read once and continually return to not only as an invaluable reference but as a cracking good read.” —Michael McCarthy, battlefield guide