Small Wars 1500 to the Present

The British Empire was the largest of its type in history, but, as this work reminds us, other countries had their empires, also. This includes France, Spain, Portugal and Holland, and, like Britain, these countries fought colonial wars. They were often vicious, cruel and bloody, fought against local forces by better-trained and armed armies. This work reminds us of these wars, which are overshadowed by the larger wars fought in the timespan covered. The author covers a lot of ground and time and includes philosophers such as Voltaire, whose opinions on wars are still valid in cases today. Here, the reader will find the familiar and not so familiar, as the author examines wars, armies with regular soldiers and also mercenaries.

Reading this book will change minds about many conflicts and how empires worked and were created. His conclusions about conflict in the 21st century are thought-provoking.