The History of War

What causes wars? How are they fought, and why do they ultimately end? Join West Point Chief of Military History Bryan Gibby to learn how factors such as politics, economics, ideology, geography, and technology have influenced military conflict.

This 18-lecture audio course covers the evolution of warfare from its Mediterranean origins to the industrial-era wars that formed modern Europe and the United States. Rather than merely telling war stories, these lectures provoke critical thinking to help you understand the origins of war and its resolution.

Your exploration begins with the ancient Greek and Roman wars of the Middle Ages and Renaissance and the ensuing Military Revolution of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Thirty Years War that followed devastated European societies and paved the way for the ancién regime of enlightened despots. Moving on to the eighteenth century, the era of limited warfare ultimately gave way to the strategies of domination embodied by the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

Next, you’ll address the evolution of warfare and its role in the formation of the United States and learn how the wars with Mexico and the American Civil War show the impact of industrialization, nationalism, and technology on modern warfare. Last, you’ll explore the wars of Italian and German unification that set the stage for the world’s most destructive conflicts of the twentieth century.

DISCLAIMER: This publication was privately produced and is not the product of an official of the United States Army acting in an official capacity. The contents of this publication, including words, images, and opinions, are unofficial and not to be considered as the official views of the the United States Military Academy, United States Army, or Department of Defense. Neither this publication nor its content are endorsed by the United States Military Academy, United States Army, or Department of Defense.

This course is part of the Learn25 Collection.