SPANNING 1,000 years of particularly vicious scrapping, this is a fascinating and well-illustrated account of military conflict.
Taking us chronologically from the fall of western Rome to the Reformation, it strikes a neat balance between detailed narrative and glossy pictures.
A few more maps wouldn’t have gone amiss, but for the most part it’s well-judged, and the history is never swamped by the photography.
All the mainstream bases are well covered – Vikings, Crusades, Charlemagne, etc – but there’s good coverage of the wider world, too, with central Asia, Japan, India and China.
Overall, a tidy and accessible introduction to the subject that’s a pleasure to read.
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