"Reading Suggestions" Topic

I'm teaching a military history course again this fall after a lapse of about five years, and am putting together the reading list for the students and wondered what the folks at TMP might suggest. The course covers the period from about 1400-1815, and is intended for students interested in history but who do not necessarily have a lot of background. I like to assign a mixture of primary and secondary sources (so last time, for example, I assigned both Contreras's memoirs and Duffy's <The Military Experience>). So what would you have liked to have been asked to read back in the day if you were taking a course called, "The Origins of Modern War"? Thanks! -- Hans

The Face of Battle by John Keegan, at least the introduction and the sections on Agincourt and Waterloo.

Also, Napoleon's Last Victory and the Emergence of Modern War by Robert M. Epstein.

European Warfare 1494-1660 by Jeremy Black.

I am not sure wether you can cover such a broad topic with many "primary sources". The "origins of modern war", as distinct from earlier war, are probably different states (means: larger armies and objectives) and gunpowder – and whereever that leads.

Covering just the battlefield experience "The Face of Battle" is almost iconic, though I am not not sure wether it really contributes to "The ORIGINS of modern war". It certainly can be used to reflect the experience of the soldier, and later to review the way history today looks at these battles and battlefields, and where newer research conflicts with (or rather would modify) Keegans view.

For the change from medieval to modern warfare "The military revolution" by Geoffrey Parker is imho a good starting point. It has seen some critics, but is a very good read and highlights some important transformations of the European military at that time.
It does not cover the initial political changes from medieval times to "modern" Europe, though, to which several major factors contribute: the creation of the Habsburg dynasty by Maximilian (from poverish heir to the family that ruled Burgundy, Spain and parts of Hungary beside a large part of the Empire, creating the Valois/Habsburg rivalry that would evolve into the French/German antagonism), the rise of the Ottomans, the discovery of the Americas and (more important then this, imho, at least in the short term) the final breakthrough at reaching the Indias around Africa, cutting out the Mediterran states from world trade. If you DO find a good book covering this from actual sources, PLEASE forward that find here :-)

BTW: Good "primary" sources for the original transformation of medieval armies into more modern may be the various "ordonannces" issued in France and especially Burgundy in the 15th century, and the "Kriegsartikel", various constitutions created first by the Swiss and then used by Landsknechts to regulate the inner workings of their units. An Italian "condotta" (or one issued by Charles the bold) may also work. The transformation covered by Parker later leads to the revocation of the internal legislation of the military units and rule by the state – in that process changing the "soldier of fortune", the somehow still respected mercenary that fought for money in the early 16th century into the recruited fool that had to be forced into the army. Extracts of Simplicissimus could work as a "primary" source of the soldiers life in the 30yw.

Sorry, going over to ranting. If you specify the exact goals of your course I could try to dig up more usefull tips, though much of the stuff I do have is in German.

Hello Hans,

I'll limit myself to my primary interest of the Thirty Years War. I suspect you already have a copy of the pertinent chapters (Chapter 5 in this case) of William Young's Bibliography of Diplomatic and Military Studies.

Several items could particularly be considered:

John Lynn, "Tactical Evolution in the French Army, 1560-1660", French Historical Studies, Vol. XIV, No. 2 (Fall, 1985), pp. 176-191.

David Parrott, "Strategy and Tactics in the Thirty Years War: The Military Revolution" Militärgeschichtliche, No. 38 (2/85), pp. 7-25.

David Parrott, The Business of War: Military Enterprise and Military Revolution in Early Modern Europe, (2012).

And for an example of the historian's art and obscure historical inquiry into the period there is Gavin Robinson, "Equine Battering Rams? A Reassessment of Cavalry Charges in the English Civil War", The Journal of Military History, No. 75 (July 2011), pp. 719-731.

I know the latter is in the Chester Fritz Library as I had to drive down from Winnipeg to photocopy it. LOL

Ryan

I have a ton of suggestions for specific period works but as a decent intro to the the whole second half of the timescale to be taught you may want investigate this-

link

It is an old fashioned large volume coffee table book- but it is at the highest end of that category, with quite a lot of detail and a coherent narrative. It has thoughtfully written compare and contrast over time and across geography (eg West Europe vs East Europe, Europe vs the Americas, ancien regime vs national era, etc). Lots of illustrations- and available pretty cheaply if you shop around.

This post has made me take my copy off the shelf for the first time in many years and it is a good read. When you've read it you certainly won't be an expert but you'll have a reasonable basis to build on.

I post book reviews on the HMGS Historical Book Review Blog:

HMGS Historical Book Review Blog

Although not a specific suggestion for your class, it's worth a look as I keep the reviews short and with an eye for miniature wargaming. I usually post about once per week.