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Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, 1994, 276 pgs.,
notes, index, bibliography, maps
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Reviewer Comment:The content of the the book
is Dr. Black's analysis and conclusions about warfare in the period he
discusses. In inludes his own theories, and his criticism of those of other
historians. H includes more discussion of the British - French - local wars in
India that do other authors.. The time period he chose is the period during
which European warfare changed significantly from the 'cabinet wars' - the
limited wars between competing rulers and the much larger wars that developed
into national wars from the French Revolution and Napoleon.
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1. European warfare and its global context
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2. Weaponry and tactics
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3. Decisiveness:
Dr. Black notes that the strong bias of 'present mindness' results in
historians - critics - judging events and leaders in prior centuries on the
basis of their own theoriesand beliefs. He writes that ideas about
'decisiveness now (WWII for example) should not be used to judge 18th century
warfare. He discusses 'decisiveness' with comparisons between campaigns of
Frederick the Great and Napoleon. He cites Hans Delbruck and the lengthy debate
(controvers) over the two strategies - attrition and annihilation. And he also
mentions the concept of 'war of position'.
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4. Warfare 1660 - 1721
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5. Warfare 1721 - 1763
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6. Warfare 1763 - 1791
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7 Warfare in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic age 1792 - 1815
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Social and political context
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9.Conclusions
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