50 Battles That Changed the World
by William Weir
A Summary Of World History
Rather than celebrating warfare, 50 Battles That Changed the World looks
at the clashes the author believes have had the most profound impact on
world history. Listed in order of their relevance to the modern world, they
range from the ancient past to the present day and span the globe many
times over. This book is not so much about military strategy as the
implications of the battles that were vital in shaping civilization as we know
it. Some of the battles in this book are familiar to us all-Bunker Hill, which
prevented the American Revolution from being stillborn, and Marathon,
which kept the worlds first democracy alive. Others may be less familiar-
the naval battle at Diu (on the Indian Coast), which led to the ascendancy
of Western Civilization and the discovery of America, and Yarmuk, which
made possible the spread of Islam from Morocco to the Philippines.

Personal Review: 50 Battles That Changed the World by William
Weir
William Weir was a combat correspondent in the Korean War, a
newspaper reporter-photographer, and a public relations specialist for a
telephone company. He is now a freelance writer. Some of these battles
are well known, others will be news. Battles are human drama that include
interesting characters. Any list by one writer, or a team, is subjective (p.7).
Wars are conflicts over property, to get it or to keep it. The 'Introduction'
explains his reasoning for these selections. There is a 'Glossary of Military
Terms', 'Timelines' that classify these battles, a 'Bibliography' with nearly
300 references, and an 'Index'. Each battle has a few pages so it is limited
in scope. This book is entertaining and educational.
Chapter 7 does not mention the breaking of the Enigma cipher and its
effects on the Battle of Britain. Weir says the after effect of the conquest of
Constantinople in 1203 were the domestic crusades and religious wars
(p.50). The victory at Saratoga led to American independence and inspired
revolution in France and Latin America (p.59). Louis XVI summoned
Parliament because he needed new tax money (p.60). The Goths were not
barbarians (p.64). "The fall of the Western Roman Empire marked the birth
of Western civilization as we know it" (p.66). Weir notes the effect of
Hannibal's destruction of the countryside was to increase the wealth and
property of the rich Senators (p.132). The landless proletariat provided the
professional soldiers for Imperial Rome (p.142). [The destruction of family
farms in America was followed by a large standing army.] The weather
caused the greatest harm to the Spanish Armada (p.155).
The German invasion of Belgium and the atrocities turned the neutral
nations against Germany (p.158). The siege of Vienna in 1529 marked the
high tide of the Turkish invasion of Europe (p.168). The battle of Tanga
showed African soldiers could defeat European forces (p.179). 'Battle 32'
explains the events that led to the fall of the Western Empire. Could a
booming economy with paper money create a revolution (p.218)? Was it
due to gross mismanagement (p.219)? Or was it caused by masses of
armed peasants (p.220). The end of the war saw the end of many
monarchies (p.228). The chapter on the Taiping Rebellion will be news to
many. There is a summary on the Thirty Years War (Chapter 45). The
reason for the Spanish-American War was to get colonies, but this could
not be admitted in republican America (p.266). Weir summarizes the Têt
Offensive and its political consequences (p.274).
'Timeline 1' shows about half of these 50 battles occurred in the last 300
years. I think this book would be better if the battles were presented in
chronological order.
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