Modern Wars
1 total work
Until they were surpassed by the war of 1914-1918, the Napoleonic Wars of 1803-1815 were often collectively tagged, "The Great War". Progressively engulfing not only the whole of the continent but also the overseas possessions of the leading European states, it was a war of unprecedented scale and intensity. In many ways a product of change, it acted as a catalyst for upheaval and reform across much of Europe. This study draws on recent findings and applies a "total" history approach, covering the causes and effects of the conflict and its place in the evolution of modern warfare. It explores and reappraises the most significant and controversial military ventures, including the war at sea and Napoleon's campaigns of 1805-1809, yet demonstrates, in interspersed thematic sections, how incomplete our understanding of the stuggle must be without an appreciation of the wider economic, cultural, political, and intellectual dimensions.