The Bazaar of War

Domesticated Breeds: The Difficulties of Jointness

Nothing embodies the glamour of warfare—and the exasperation of generals—better than the cavalryman of old. Many a well-timed cavalry charge, carried…

Nov 10

28

3

Strategy in an Endless War: The Arab-Byzantine Frontier, Part 1

For over 300 years, the Arabs and Byzantines fought an endless series of frontier wars. These partly resembled other interstate conflicts, with sieges…

Nov 4

47

8

October 2025

Small Wars and Protracted Competition

The concept of a small war is an interesting one.

Oct 27

26

3

Units Built for Purpose: Structure vs. Adaptability

A recent piece from the Modern War Institute looks at the problem of creating and sustaining breakthroughs on the modern battlefield.

Oct 9

43

13

8

September 2025

Contested Crossings: Fighting Across Rivers in the Gunpowder Age

River crossings in the face of an enemy has always been one of the most difficult tasks. But the gunpowder age opened up new tactical possibilities.

Sep 30

23

2

Theaters of Operation and the Potential for War

The expressions “theater of operations” and “theater of war” have often been used interchangeably.

Sep 13

49

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4

August 2025

Pulsing From the Depths: The Problem of the Rear Area in Offensive Operations

It is a basic principle of combined arms that, by concentrating a variety of different fires, one can simultaneously increase the odds of success while…

Aug 28

36

3

4

A Military-Industrial Complex With a State: Sweden in the 17th Century

Mirabeau’s witticism about Prussia being an army with a state could have just as easily been said of Sweden in the 17th century, which transformed…

Aug 23

46

7

Book Discussion on The Gunpowder Age: China, Military Innovation, and the Rise of the West in World History

A synopsis and discussion of The Gunpowder Age: China, Military Innovation, and the Rise of the West in World History by Tonio Andrade.

Aug 10

45

5

4

July 2025

Naval Warfare is Positional: The Influence of Land on Sea

Operations on land usually determine the objectives of a naval campaign, but the reverse is also true: the ability to project power at sea is determined…

Jul 20

67

4

15

Lines and Reserves, Part 3: Linear Tactics

This is the third of a multi-part series.

Jul 9

25

4

4

Successors to the Western Front, Pt. 2: The Second Zhili-Fengtian War

The period from 1920 to 1928 was the height of the Warlord Era, in which China was wracked by civil conflicts between rival military factions.

Jul 4

24

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