In 1993, 140 elite US soldiers abseiled into a market in the city of Mogadishu, Somalia. Their mission was to abduct two lieutenants of a Somali warlord. But they were drawn into a battle with armed Somalis. Black Hawk Down is a minute-by-minute account of modern war.

This study looks at the past 500 years to demonstrate that nations which became great powers declined as their growth rate slowed and their spending on defence continued to increase. The author explains how this can be eased or worsened by clever or short-sighted policy decisions.

A History of Warfare stresses that warmaking, for all its destructiveness, has been an inescapable feature of human culture since organised societies emerged.

Presents a contemporary account of the long life-and-death struggle between Athens and Sparta. This title compiles a factual record of this disastrous conflict.

Providing an account of the nature, purpose and experience of war since 1450, this text investigates both land and sea warfare and examines weaponry, tactics, strategy and resources as well as the political, social and cultural impact of conflict.

A history of weapons and warfare, from the Macedonian sarissa to the atomic bomb. The book describes technological and strategic advances in military science, but also aims to evoke the horror of war and comment on the future of warfare.