Castles, Battles, and Bombs

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

Get Book

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

Castles, Battles, and Bombs

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

Get Book

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

Castles, Battles, and Bombs

Castles, Battles, and Bombs PDF Author: Jurgen Brauer
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780226071640
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 403

Get Book

Book Description
From the walls of Troy to the sands of Iraq, humans have devoted staggering resources to the art and science of war. Yet while military history has long studied the economics of conflict, until now there have been few attempts to apply the principles of economics to military history. In Castles, Battles, and Bombs, Jurgen Brauer and Hubert van Tuyll reconsider 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 Middle Ages seems almost inevitable: thoug.

Illuminating the Dark Arts of War

Illuminating the Dark Arts of War PDF Author: David Tucker
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1441177426
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 388

Get Book

Book Description
Since 9/11, the dominant view is that we have entered an era of 'new conflict' in which technology has empowered non-state actors who now pose unprecedented and unmanageable threats to U.S. national security. This unique work studies a range of threats, from homegrown and foreign terrorism to the possibility of cyber- or Chinese sabotage and fears of religious subversion to challenge every aspects of this 'new conflict' argument and expose its underlying exaggerations and misunderstandings. Examining such issues as political violence, the role of religion in terrorism, the impact of technology, and the political aspects of homeland security, this unique survey demonstrates how such activities as terrorism are limited by their clandestine nature. It also addresses why we need to switch our strategic focus and increase the role citizens have in dealing with such threats. This historically informed and critical analysis fills a void in the debates on the threats and conflicts that the U.S. confronts at home and abroad and will appeal to anyone interested in national security and terrorism.

West Point History of World War II

West Point History of World War II PDF Author: The United States Military Academy
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1476782776
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 384

Get Book

Book Description
Reader's Digest Endowed Book Fund.

The Bombing Of Brittany: Solving The Wrong Problem

The Bombing Of Brittany: Solving The Wrong Problem PDF Author: Major Jeremiah S. Heathman
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN: 1782898018
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 59

Get Book

Book Description
As a result of the Allied bombing campaign against Nazi submarine bases during the Second World War, the cities of Brest, Lorient, and Saint Nazaire were nearly completely destroyed. Despite thousands of bombing missions, all three submarine bunkers still stand today. This monograph examines the effectiveness of the Allied bombing campaign against German submarine bases in Brittany by analyzing the campaign through the use of a design methodology. Research is broken down into three frames: the operational approach, the operational environment and the problem frame. The first frame provides an account of the bombing missions and effects. Next, an overview of the operational environment is conducted by exploring the historical context of Brittany, German construction efforts and Allied institutional barriers. The study concludes by examining the problem frame, which entails how the Allies perceived their operational problem and developed an approach based on their understanding. Ultimately, the Allies failed to accurately identify their problem and developed an ineffective approach towards defeating the threat. Had the Allies incorporated design thinking into their planning and execution, they may have developed an effective campaign towards defeating the Nazi U-boat threat rather than solving the wrong problem.

A Companion to World War II

A Companion to World War II PDF Author: Thomas W. Zeiler
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118325052
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 1541

Get Book

Book Description
A Companion to World War II brings together a series of fresh academic perspectives on World War II, exploring the many cultural, social, and political contexts of the war. Essay topics range from American anti-Semitism to the experiences of French-African soldiers, providing nearly 60 new contributions to the genre arranged across two comprehensive volumes. A collection of original historiographic essays that include cutting-edge research Analyzes the roles of neutral nations during the war Examines the war from the bottom up through the experiences of different social classes Covers the causes, key battles, and consequences of the war

Battle Of Créçy, August 26, 1346

Battle Of Créçy, August 26, 1346 PDF Author: André Geraque Kiffer
Publisher: Clube de Autores
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 131

Get Book

Book Description
Although the information of the prior recognition of the English strong position had not altered the count of Alençon s willingness to attack, King Philip in verifying his blatant failure could have halted this, let s call it, forceful recognition, and taken an offensive device for the attacks in the early hours of the next day. When a typical Byzantine (or Double Perpendicular with forward pressure combined with flank attacks) would then be employed, that is, a force frontally threatened the enemy formation by fixing it, especially if it were a solid infantry block, but without engaging decisively; then other forces sought to flank and / or engage the enemy device.

Battle Of Courtrai, July 11, 1302

Battle Of Courtrai, July 11, 1302 PDF Author: André Geraque Kiffer
Publisher: Clube de Autores
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 93

Get Book

Book Description
As an outline of the tactical maneuver that will be tested in the simulated battle game of chapter 3, we present the Staunton chess Opening as a model, where we will consider a hypothesis (compared to chess) that employs the battle order 12, Yarmuk s or the reinforced oblique on the attacking flank, which has its best use in an attack which a smaller force (Note: in this case the inferiority is more for the relative advantage of the Flemish defense device than the French attack s, than for the effective) against an bigger one, reserving from the initial shock the weakened flank.

Battle Of Ayn Jalut, September 3rd, 1260

Battle Of Ayn Jalut, September 3rd, 1260 PDF Author: André Geraque Kiffer
Publisher: Clube de Autores
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 100

Get Book

Book Description
In the simulation of the battle of Ayn Jalut, because of the anchorage of the Mamluk device on higher ground, unfavorable to the Mongol maneuver, Ketbugha will not follow Baydar with the main battle line, waiting in the valley and / or hills. Baydar and the vanguard will be instrumental in our (Mongol) device, and should avoid being destroyed, but advancing and displacing the Mamluk battle line.

Battle Of Nájera, April 3rd, 1367

Battle Of Nájera, April 3rd, 1367 PDF Author: André Geraque Kiffer
Publisher: Clube de Autores
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 118

Get Book

Book Description
In the simulation of the battle of Nájera the center of gravity of both maneuvers (defensive and offensive) will be the Nájera Bridge over the Najerilla River. The French and Castilians will have the opportunity to force the English into a disadvantageous attack, as the Scots succeeded and won at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. French and Castilian employment will be tested for a Concave or Italian Defense battle order, which has its best job in the situation where a defense initially gives up, with or without intention, its center. Comparable to an Italian Opening in Chess.