Castles, Battles, & Bombs: How Economics Explains Military History
Jurgen Brauer and Hubert van Tuyll
Abstract
This book reconsiders key episodes of military history from the point of view of economics. For example, when looked at as a question of sheer cost, the building of castles in the High Middle Ages seems almost inevitable: though stunningly expensive, a strong castle was far cheaper to maintain than a standing army. The book also reexamines the strategic bombing of Germany in World War II and provides insights into France's decision to develop nuclear weapons. Drawing on these examples and more, it suggests lessons for today's military, from counterterrorist strategy and military manpower plann ... More
Keywords: military history, castles, Middle Ages, standing army, World War II, nuclear weapons, counterterrorist strategy, private military companies, Afghanistan, Iraq
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2008 | Print ISBN-13: 9780226071633 |
| Published to Chicago Scholarship Online: March 2013 | DOI:10.7208/chicago/9780226071657.001.0001 |
