War is undoubtedly cruel. It is also a significant motor of change in world politics. War has created and destroyed states, nations, and empires; fueled processes of industrialization and democratization; and has left an indelible imprint on contemporary society. At the same time war shapes society, changes in societies remake war. In every century, technological advances and ideational shifts have greatly influenced the conduct of war.

This course examines the interrelationships among military technology, strategy, politics, and war, asking how these forces have shaped warfare from the introduction of gunpowder to the present, and how, in turn, warfare has changed societies and politics. The course is deeply historical. We will begin in the 14th century and end in the present day. Particular emphasis, however, will be placed on the 19th and 20th centuries, including the industrialization of warfare, nationalism and warfare, and the development of nuclear weapons.