This encyclopedia is the definitive survey of the subject of warfare, from the time of the earliest civilizations to the 1990s. Clear & concise surveys, with specially commissioned maps & battle plans, single out the really crucial battles & campaigns of world history, explaining not only why & how they were fought, but exactly what made them so important. This is linked to detailed examination & analysis of other key themes in the history of warfare -- notably the impact of developing technologies on the way in which wars were fought, from the Bronze Age chariot to the helicopter gunship.