Department of History

Course Syllabus

HI499: Military History


January 1997

Instructor: Dr. Donald A. Yerxa
Office: Canterbury 20
Telephone: ext. 3567
Office Hours: posted
Virtual Office Hours: yerxad@enc.edu
 

Course Description

This course will address the nature and history of warfare and armed force from antiquity to the present, with emphasis on: *the philosophy of war *the strategic dimensions of both limited and total war *the interrelationships of politics, economics, technology, and human attitudes with war. Military History reflects the opinion that war is a terrible disease, rooted in fallen human nature. Short of divine intervention, war will never be eliminated completely. But the hope remains that war can be limited and controlled. For this to happen, war needs to be thoroughly diagnosed, and this is the task of historians, theologians, artists, philosophers, social scientists, and sober thinkers in general. The subject of war has tremendous importance for an overall understanding of history. One of the primary objectives of this course will be to foster an appreciation for the impact of war on the development of history (e.g., its impact on political structures). As the noted Yale historian Paul Kennedy has noted, warfare is a critically important aspect of history, and it cannot be ignored just because of its horror and unpleasantness. This course deals mostly with broad interpretations and strategic history. We will not be engaging in ³Gee Whiz² or ³blood 'n guts² accounts of warfare. This is a history course and requires a measure of historical expertise. This course does not stress sociological or moralistic themes, though those themes are certainly important. Hopefully, this course does not endorse belligerent militarism, since the professor regards flag-waving militarists as dangerously callous or naive as to the devastation, waste, and tragedy of war. On the other hand, the professor regards those who react to human frailties only with emotional escapism as intellectual cowards. The subject of war demands clear thinking and careful analysis. While this is listed as a 400-level course, the professor handles this as a survey-level course and cordially welcomes interested non-history majors into the fold. Clear thinking and good writing skills are not unique to the discipline of history; therefore, non-history majors should not find themselves at an undue disadvantage.
 

Evolution of the Course

Although this is the second time that this course has been named Military History at Eastern Nazarene College, it is the fifth time a course on the history of warfare has been offered here by Prof. Yerxa. Beyond that, the course can be traced back to Duke University, where Prof. Theodore Ropp taught ³War in the Modern World² since 1938 (he has since retired). One of Ropp¹s brightest students (and there have been many), Clark Reynolds developed his own course in military history at the U.S. Naval Academy and at the University of Maine (where it was named simply ³War²). Prof. Yerxa studied with Reynolds at the University of Maine (and was his Teaching Assistant for ³War²) in the early 1970s and has remained in close contact with him ever since. Many of the interpretations of military history presented in the Yerxa version of this course come from the Ropp-Reynolds connection. Course Structure The subjects of war and military history are among the most extensive subjects of historical inquiry and carry with them massive bibliographies (primary sources, narratives, and interpretive literature). This forces some obvious constraints when we attempt to explore the entire scope of military history in a four-week January Term. Most classes will consist of lectures and class discussions which stress the ³big picture,² the overview. Readings and outside assignments will provide some detail.
 

Course Objectives

  1. To explore the impact of war on the overall development of history.
  2. To illustrate how maritime and continental powers adopt conceptually similar strategic postures throughout history.
  3. To attempt to understand the tension between attempts to understand warfare as a purposeful political activity (Clausewitz) and the chaotic nature of battle and warfare as it is unfolds in history (Keegan).
  4. To introduce students to the professional study of military history: major interpretive schools, professional journals, and several key thinkers.
  5. To reinforce students¹ written communication skills by assigning a book review.

Course Requirements

  1. Attendance. Attendance is no small matter for the serious student of history; therefore, prompt attendance is required. More than one unexcused absence will result in a 10- point lowering of the discussion grade per absence. An unexcused absence is defined as not being present for a session (each class consists of two sessions: before and after chapel break) without informing the professor of a justifiable reason for the absence. Unexcused tardiness (more than 5-min. late) will also jeopardize the discussion grade as follows: three late appearances = one absence.
  2. Discussion. Students will be graded on their participation in discussions of lectures, videos, and outside readings. The professor will be using the following criteria: interest in the material, engagement in meaningful dialogue, evidence of having done the assignments on time, and evidence of having reflected on the material.
  3. Examinations. There will be two exams, each containing a mixture of identification and essay questions.
  4. Book Review. Each student will prepare a 3-5pp. critical book review of Keegan¹s Face of Battle. Evaluation criteria: evidence of having read the entire book, evidence of thoughtful reflection on the book, discussion of the book in relation to overall course themes, discussion of the usefulness of Keegan¹s approach in an overall appreciation of humanity¹s experience with war, clear and accurate prose (each different spelling and obvious grammatical error will result in a one-point penalty). Late reviews will be penalized 5 points per class day of lateness.
  5. Extra Credit. Students may earn up to 10% extra credit by writing a 5-pp. paper addressing the primary strategic concerns of a nation/power listed below. Discuss such things as geographic constraints, strategic competition from other powers, economic strength, political stability, and the utilization of military and naval forces. Your essay should represent a synthesis of current scholarship. At least five sources must be consulted. Check with your professor first. Athens or Sparta during the Peloponnesian Wars; Imperial Rome; Byzantium (ca 500AD - Crusades); Spain under Charles V; 17th c. Holland, France, or England; 18th c. France, Britain, Russia, or Prussia; 19th c. United States, Russia, France, or Britain; Japan, 1900-1945; Russia, 1900-1925, 1935-1945, 1945-1962, or 1962-1989; China, 1900-1949 or 1949-present; Austria, 1900-1918; Italy, 1900-1918, 1925-1939, or 1939-1944; Germany, 1871-1900, 1900-1918, 1918-1939, or 1939-1945; France, 1900-1918, 1920-1945, or 1945-present; Britain, 1900-1918, 1918-1938, 1939-1945, or 1945-present; United States, 1898-1918, 1919-1940, 1940-1945, 1945-1962, 1962-1975, or 1975-1989.

Course Grading

Course Expectations

  1. Consistent attendance.
  2. Prompt reading of all assignments.
  3. Thoughtful reflection of the nature of war and its impact on human history.
  4. Solid writing skills.

Course Texts

  1. John Keegan, The Face of Battle
  2. Geoffrey Parker, The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare [CIHW]
  3. Clark Reynolds, History and the Sea

Course Schedule (subject to possible revision)

Jan. 6 Course Introduction War in Antiquity
Jan. 7 Concept of Thalassocracy Read: Reynolds, chapters 1 & 2; Kennedy article: "The Fall and Rise of Military History"; Keegan article "The Parameters of Warfare"; CIHW, "Intro"
Jan. 8 War in Antiquity Read: Cambridge History [CIHW], chapters 1-3; Ober article: "The Origin of Strategy"; Casson article: "Ancient Naval Warfare"
Jan. 9 Medieval Warfare: Europe, Byzantium, and the Muslim World Read: CIHW, chapter 4
Jan. 10 Land Warfare, 1300 -1763 Read: CIHW, chapters 5, 6, 8, and 9
Jan. 13 Naval Warfare, 1300 - 1763 Read: CIHW, chapter 7
Jan. 14 Anglo-American Military Tradition Read: CIHW, pp. 186-90; Reynolds, chapter 5
Jan. 15 America: Thalassocracy or Continental Power? Read: Reynolds, chapter 4
Jan. 16 Examination #1 Jan. 17 Era of the French Revolution and Napoleon Read; CIHW, pp. 190-213
Jan. 20 MLK Day; No class. Jan. 21 19th Century Warfare Read: CIHW, chapter 12; Epstein article: "Patterns of Change and Continuity in 19th Century Warfare" Jan. 22 Toward Total War Read: CIHW, chapter 13
Jan. 23 WWI and Interlude Read: CIHW, chapters 14 and 15; Reynolds, chapter 6
Jan. 24 World War II Read: CIHW, chap.16; Reynolds, chap.7; Kennedy, "Japanese Strategic Decisions"; Costello, "Remember Pearl Harbor"; Koda, "Cdr's Dilemma"
Jan. 27 Cold War to Vietnam Read: CIHW, pp. 340-50
Jan. 28 Vietnam Read: CIHW, pp. 350-56
Jan. 29 War Since Vietnam Read: CIHW, pp. 356-63. Keegan Book Review Due.
Jan. 30 Current and Future Developments Read: CIHW, pp. 364-373; Kennedy, "The (Relative) Decline of America"; Kaplan, "Fort Leavenworth" Extra Credit Essays Due.
Jan. 31 Examination #2