War begins with geography: the grandest of strategies can be thwarted by a fiercely defended mountain pass or a great battle can hinge upon which army occupies a single hilltop. For 25 centuries and more, soldiers have understood the life-or-death role played by terrain – and this fascinating collection of essays by some of today’s finest military historians offers a systematic survey of how the « geographical imperative » has shaped warfare over the ages.
From Alexander the Great to Napoleon to Norman Schwarkopf, from Marathon to Masada to Monte Cassino, Battlegrounds explores how commanders have exploited the lay of the land – fallen victim to it – as he art of war has evolved. At once an instructive lesson in the role of geography in armed conflict and a wide-ranging panorama of dozens of battles, this unique book is military history at its best.
