Battles That Changed History by Geoffrey Regan

by Geoffrey Regan

Spanning two and a half thousand years of warfare, from Salamis, where the Greeks put an end to Persian attempts to overwhelm their country, through the Battle of Hastings and the fall of Constantinople to the key engagements in the World Midway, El Alamein and Stalingrad right up to Operation Desert Storm, Battles that Changed History is a stimulating and lively account of fifty decisive battles that, either as a result of victory or defeat, have had a long-term impact on the course of world history. With the aid of numerous maps and illustrations military expert Geoffrey Regan not only examines the background and consequences of each battle, but also vividly re-creates the actual fighting, analyses the tactics and profiles key commanders and weaponry. Battles that Changed History provides an informative look at the military engagements that have shaped the modern world and will appeal to both the military history enthusiast and the general reader alike.

Genres: History, Historical, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published March 30, 2002

About the author

Geoffrey Regan is an English military historian, former senior school teacher and broadcaster.

Reviews

[David Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter is a study of a different battle. To make the cut, the battle had to have changed, or had the potential to change, the course of history. The perfect read for an armchair historian.

[Javeria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in my father's "library" when I was about 9 years old, and I was absolutely fascinated by it. I loved the writing, the maps, the battle plans - everything. I especially loved the part where, after describing a battle, the writer explained how it impacted the world as we know it today. I even made little annotations in my clumsy 4th grade handwriting. My father helped me with pronunciations and Urdu versions of names; once he made me write "قسطنطنیہ" (Constantinople) and I remember writing some weird version of it that sent him into a fit of laughter.

Apart from the pleasant memories I have associated with this book, I think it's a pretty good read otherwise too. It's very informative and the narration doesn't get boring. I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in history, or even just looking for some general knowledge.

[Charise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent!
It was detailed but not too heavy that it wasn't very readable. I knew about half of the battles before I began but it was still interesting to be reminded and learn more. I especially liked the segments where the author explained why each battle was chosen as being of particular significance.

[John Somers · Rating 3 out of 5]

12/20.