History of Warfare.

Catalog description

Humans began fighting wars before we learned to farm, write or build cities. Is warfare part of human nature? Taking a global approach, this course examines the history of warfare from ancient times through the present. We examine weapons, soldiering, tactics and strategy and how these were shaped by social, political and technological changes. The gunpowder revolution began in China and set warfare on a new course, propelled by firepower, rapid technological innovation, industrialization and killing at a distance. European political revolutions changed how and why we fight, starting with Napoleon and leading to world wars, anti-colonial wars, the Cold War and terrorism. This course examines warfare as part of the human experience and considers how we respond to it as individuals and communities. ( GE2B , GEWE )