Battlegrounds : Geography and the Art of Warfare

by Michael Stephenson

In Battlegrounds, Michael Stephenson assembles an impressive roster of the world?s best military historians and writers, including Dr. David Chandler, Richard Holmes, John Warry, and Brendan Morrissey, to discuss the impact of geography on military strategy and history. This collection of essays, illustrated with vintage and modern maps, offers geographic adventure around the world, across centuries, and through every kind of terrain, shedding new light on famous battles and introducing less well-known?but nevertheless significant?moments in military history. Throughout military history, battles have often been determined by certain ?geographic imperatives??characteristics of the terrain that significantly affect the nature of the fighting. Confrontations, therefore, have essentially been decided by an army¼s ability to adapt to geographical features, giving rivers, mountains, and beaches lead roles in the political shaping of the world. From Alexander the Great?s attack across the Granicus in 334 B.C. to the U.S. siege of the mountains of Afghanistan in 2001, geography has been a permanent and crucial factor in battle. Battlegrounds provides an unprecedented and fascinating look at this most formidable of adversaries throughout the history of warfare.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, World History, Reference, War

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

"In addition to his writing, Stephenson spent more than twenty-five years as a professional book editor, for much of that time with a particular focus on military publishing."

"Stephenson is the former editor of the Military Book Club and the editor of National Geographic's Battlegrounds: Geography and the History of Warfare. He is also the author of Patriot Battles: How the War of Independence Was Fought. He lives in New York City."

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Reviews

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays in "Battlegrounds" are introductory level stuff that don't really address the role of geography (read topography) in shaping battles. When George Meade arrived at the Gettysburg battlefield late on the first day, he asked his subordinate commanders, "Is it good ground." That question doesn't get answered about any of the battlefields Cowley writes about, and more's the pity. Someone should write such a book.

[Fresno Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

for a book titled "Battlegrounds:Geography and the Art of Warfare", the maps suck in terms of both quality and quanity, there should be 3X the maps that are presented

[Darren W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is promoted as “an instructive lesson in the role of geography in armed conflict and a wide-ranging panorama of dozens of battles..” yet fails to become either. Each battle is covered in roughly half a dozen pages and only presents enough information to be a brief introduction for readers that know nothing about that battle. The geography of each battle is discussed in no greater detail than any other war history book and often less than many. I would only recommend this book for anybody just getting into military history and needing an introduction to some of the great battles. It was well written but lacks the detail it was promoted as having.

[mj Hangge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author did a good job of discussing several different battlefields from a wide range of history. Well worth reading.

[Steven Raszewski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor rehash of battles and the geographic point not well made.