Empires at War A Chronological Encyclopedia from Sumer to the Fall of Byzantium

For more than 5,000 years, massive empires have met on the battlefield to determine the future course of world history. Ranging from Sumer, the world's first imperial state, to the fall of the Byzantine Empire, this comprehensive three-volume set, which includes both Western and non-Western empires, details the military capabilities of these empires, including the armies, soldiers, technologies, and commanders that powered the imperial juggernaut. From the Near East to Asia, from Western Europe to the New World, these empires spawned every major social institution on which modern society is based, including the first use of total war. With more than 400 illustrations and maps, this set reveals the awesome and destructive power of these early forces, from the dawn of recorded history to the development of gunpowder.Gabriel, Richard A. is the author of 'Empires at War A Chronological Encyclopedia from Sumer to the Fall of Byzantium', published 2004 under ISBN 9780313334115 and ISBN 0313334110.