Early Modern | War History

Nine Reasons Why the South Lost the American Civil War

An extensive amount of effort has gone into studying the American Civil War. The reasons for the war and its outcome remain hotly debated. The…

How the American Civil War Became a “Total War”

The Civil War mobilized American resources on a scale only matched in WWII. It brought unparalleled destruction to many people. How did an initially restrained…

The Duke of Wellington, Napoleon’s Arch-Enemy

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, was Napoleon’s most famous opponent. In 1808 he led the British, Spanish, and Portuguese forces that defeated the French…

Japan’s Onin War – A Vital Moment In The History Of Japan

Andrew Knighton

The Onin War was a vital moment in the history of Japan. It saw the collapse of central authority and the descent of the nation…

Samurai, Ninja, Ronin, And More – Seven Different Warrior Classes Of Feudal Japan

Andrew Knighton

Feudal Japan is remembered as the era of the samurai. Like the knights of feudal Europe, they were the expensively equipped warrior aristocracy. They were,…

Punishing the Enemy, Feeding his Men: How General Ulysses S. Grant Changed the Course of the Civil War

General Ulysses S. Grant transformed the way the American Civil War was fought. By shifting to a strategy of “baseless” campaigning he freed himself from…

The Equipment of the Samurai – Fearsome Warriors Armed to the Teeth

Samurai were the elite warriors of feudal Japan; as dominant as knights were in Europe. Their equipment was as much a display of their status…

Seven Types of Medieval Armor – From Quilted Cloth to Full Steel Plate

Andrew Knighton

More than any other artifact of war, armor dominates visual images of medieval Europe. From the chainmail carefully stitched onto each warrior in the Bayeux…

The Mongol Invasions of Japan and the Origin of the Word “Kamikaze”

In the 1270s and 1280s, the menacing forces of the Mongols attacked Japan. Through courage, determination, and good luck, the Japanese drove them off. It…

The Valley Campaign: Stonewall Jackson Defeats Four Union Armies

Stonewall Jackson was one of the most daring and eccentric commanders in American history. Nowhere was his leadership and tactical greatness better displayed than in…

Stonewall Jackson – A Flawed but Brilliant Commander

One of the greatest commanders of the American Civil War, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was also one of the most difficult to work with. Fierce, secretive,…

Nine Factors That Brought Stonewall Jackson Victory

General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson was one of the most successful and eccentric commanders of the American Civil War. Despite a religious and personal fervor…