Book Review: ‘100 Greatest Battles’

A race through history and civilization by means of military conflict

The Battle of Midway was fought on June 4, 1942 in the Pacific campaign of World War II. MPI/Getty Images

What are history’s greatest battles? Angus Konstam, author of more than 100 history books, tackles that question with his latest book, “100 Greatest Battles.” The author begins his selection in the fifth century B.C. with the battles of the Greco-Persian Wars, and then moves through the next 2,500 years to the battles that made up the 20th century.

The book is not a deep dive into the history of warfare, as each battle is detailed in about 500 words. Each two-page section has artwork provided by Osprey Publishing artists along with a description of the image, often demonstrating a significant moment in a specific battle. The book is more a collector’s item for history or military history enthusiasts. In that same vein, it is a great book for introducing young readers to the world of military history, which also proves to be a fine introduction to geopolitical history.

The Battle of Gettysburg is discussed in "100 Greatest Battles." Print of the painting "Hancock at Gettysburg" by Thure de Thulstrup, showing Pickett's Charge. Public Domain

What is fascinating about Konstam’s work is how much he is able to discuss in such a short amount of space. He is able to introduce historical figures, the battle and its outcome, and how that gave way to other battles or ended the conflict between two nations, cultures, religions, or ideologies. This book is ideal for receiving a crash course in military history and how it affected the world through the centuries. Each battle hints at how empires rose and fell, how religion played a role in combat, and how strategic blunders in singular battles could quickly change the course of history.

Concerning the battles themselves, there doesn’t seem to be a specific formula for choosing them. Some battles are chosen for their importance in defeating empires or kingdoms, while some result in the creation of empires or kingdoms. Some are chosen due to their mass scale, and some for their sheer historical significance.

Konstam demonstrates in several instances that victory isn’t necessarily a requisite for being considered a great battle. Examples are the Battle of Thermopylae, which makes the list because of the legend created by the story of the 300 Spartans, though the result ultimately led to the destruction of Athens. Another example is the Battle of the Alamo. Although the heavily outnumbered Texans were defeated by the Mexicans, the battle became a rallying cry for the Battle of San Jacinto, which resulted in Texas becoming its own republic.

A Resource for Research

There is just enough detail in each battle for readers to conduct further research. With information ranging from historical leaders to battle locations and strategies, readers are introduced to people like Darius the Great, Julius Caesar, and Napoleon Bonaparte, and even some more obscure names like Duke Odo, Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod, and Francisco Pizarro. These 100 battles take place across the globe, from South America to Africa to Europe to Asia, and strategic methods—like the double envelopment, the feigned retreat, and the long siege—are discussed. The book is a testament that one event, and even one man, can change the course of history.

Reading through the book, one is reminded how superior numbers, though important, aren’t always necessary. There are numerous times in the book where strategy and the evolution of firepower become the equalizer when troops are outnumbered. The book also pays compliment to the genius of some of the past military leaders, like Genghis Khan, Horatio Nelson, and Douglas MacArthur.

The Battle of Agincourt in 1415 is discussed in "100 Greatest Battles" and depicted in this 15th-century miniature by Enguerrand de Monstrelet. Public Domain

How We Got Here

Military history enthusiasts understand the impact that warfare has on geography. For modern times, one only needs to look at the results of World War I to understand how nations were created, how new national boundaries were drawn, and how empires were either strengthened or dismantled.

As powers rise and fall, the ages come and go. Konstam breaks up his book into nine eras: the Ancient World (490 B.C.–A.D. 451), the Medieval World (718–1485), the Renaissance (1521–1690), the Age of Reason (1704–1781), the Napoleonic Era (1793–1815), the Age of Empires (1836–1905), World War  I (1914–1920), World War II (1940–1945), and the Modern Age (1950–1991).

Although the battles are centered on specific locations and times, Konstam often provides background as to why these battles take place, discussing years if not decades of prior military conflicts or power struggles.

A Fun Run Through History

There is no drama like military drama. Konstam’s fun and engaging book solidifies the fact that warfare is part of human nature, even when we try to avoid it. It’s a reminder that wars start for countless reasons, and one of the reasons is because of past wars.

The book lists the battles in chronological order rather than in order of importance. Indeed, that is part of the enjoyment of reading the book and possibly having a discussion with family, friends, or students—a discussion about which battles were the most important. The author leaves this conversational window wide open. He has simply done the service of providing readers and history enthusiasts with the material to appraise according to their own views. It makes a fun book even more fun.

"100 Greatest Battles" places key confrontations in chronological time. Osprey Publishing

‘100 Greatest Battles’ By Angus Konstam Osprey Publishing, April 25, 2023 Hardcover: 224 pages