Broadly conceived, this course examines the role of warfare in western society and history, during the period of emergence and expansion of western nation states. Central themes include the relationship of war to the state and its financial and managerial resources, to military technology, and to technological change in the means of production. Equally important are military leadership and the will to combat, both military and civilian. After an introduction to warfare from the classical period through the emergence of modern armies in the 17th century, the course focuses on major global conflicts from the Seven Years War though World War Two. Topics include the gradual evolution of European thinking away from classical ideas about warfare, and changing concepts of strategy, tactics, and generalship as a result of industrialization and the emergence of global economic empires.