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.