Michael Howard, professor emeritus at Oxford, is one of the leading experts on European history and the effects of war on political and cultural changes. In his book War in European History, Howard paints a sweeping picture of the development of Europe from the late Middle Ages to the modern era, tracing the history of wars, their causes, and their impacts.
Howard starts by looking at the medieval period in Europe, noting the wars between feudal lords and a lack of any overarching political order that held states together. During this time period, there were several distinct social classes including serfs, clergy, and nobles, each of which had a vested interest in the wars they fought. Howard argues that much of the fighting of this period wasn’t actually driven by a desire to conquer land, but rather by the need to maintain one’s own social standing, which is why these wars often ended in truces and settlements.
Moving on to the Renaissance and early modern era, Howard examines the changing nature of conflict and the causes of the larger scale wars that would emerge in the 17th and 18th centuries. He points to a combination of religious, political, and economic reasons for the emergence of these wars, which changed how battles were fought and lead to the development of professional armies. Howard looks specifically at the Religious Wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, the wars for colonial expansion, and the expansion of nation-states, noting the devastating impacts these wars had on civilian populations.
One of the key points of Howard’s book is the impact of industrialization and the creation of new military technologies in the 19th century. He argues that the introduction of new technologies such as machine guns and submarines fundamentally changed the way war was fought, making it much more destructive than previous conflicts. Additionally, Howard notes the role of new technologies in the propaganda and mobilizing efforts of governments during this time period, which was used both to rally citizens and to blur the lines between civilian and military casualties.
Finally, Howard looks at the 20th century and the devastation of the two World Wars. He points out the new global nature of war and the increased involvement of ordinary citizens, noting the myriad of ways in which civilians were affected by the war, from the bombardment of cities to the use of conscription. He then looks at the legacy of the atomic bombs used during World War II and their ongoing effects on politics and international relations.
Overall, War in European History is an interesting examination of the changing nature of war in Europe and the significant impacts these conflicts had on the development of European society. Howard's work is an important contribution to the study of war and its effects on political, social, and cultural changes.
