Lets see what these prominent historians think Despite national myth to the contrary, during the long 19th century the United States engaged in imperial expansion. American imperial ambitions manifest themselves in expanding across the North American continent, obtaining overseas holdings, and influencing other nation-states through economic or military action. From its earliest westward expansion shortly…
All posts tagged Military History
Rome, Carthage, and a few Punic War Hypotheticals
What if things had turned out slightly different? Could Hannibal have secured victory? During two successive wars, it is likely that Rome’s victories were unavoidable. Carthage was predominantly unable to overcome Roman military power due to its inability to comprehend Roman resolve. During the first war, it was unfathomable at the onset to see Rome as…
Favorite Books of 2022
These were my favorite five books that I read in 2022. All excellent works that might be useful for a great many of you. Here is my annual best books list Soldiers From Experience: The Forging of Sherman’s Fifteenth Army Corps, 1862–1863 by Eric Michael Burke Burke’s novel concept of tactical culture, alongside his brilliant prose,…
How Did The First World War Impact Military Aviation?
The development of three-dimensional combined arms. From the beginning of the war in 1914 through the armistice of 1918, the concept of air power developed from an ad hoc adventure into a formidable component of military strategy and combined arms warfare. Despite inconclusive short-term battlefield effects, military aviation forced commanders to account for it at…
What were Spartan Motives in the Peloponnesian War?
Fear. Honor. Interest. While multiple incidents drove the Spartans to declare war on Athens, the fear of Athenian power was undoubtedly not the driving force behind Sparta’s decision. A mighty Athens presented a clear and present danger to the economic and political sovereignty of the Peloponnesian League and required a response. Athens displayed strong empirical…
Effectiveness of U.S. Paratroopers in Operation Overlord: Debate and Analysis
A Dialectical Debate Throughout the Second World War, most belligerents used some form of airborne operations to achieve effects on the battlefield. Costly trench warfare was a universal experience during World War I and fostered experimentations with paratroopers during the interwar period. In studying the Soviets interwar tests and early German operations, many American planners…
From Airborne Adventures to Historical Insights: A Historian’s Journey
Greetings, fellow history nerds! I’m Rob, and I’m thrilled to embark on this journey with you through the annals of the U.S. Army’s past. My fascination with military history was kindled during my time in airborne units, where every jump and mission became a chapter in the unfolding story of our nation’s defense. Delving into…