Wargames : from gladiators to gigabytes / Martin van Creveld.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Van Creveld, Martin, 1946- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

War games--History.

War games.

War video games--History.

War video games.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 332 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Where did wargames come from? Who participated in them, and why? How is their development related to changes in real-life warfare? Which aspects of war did they capture, which ones did they leave out, how, and why? What do they tell us about the conduct of war in the times and places where they were played? How useful are they in training and preparation for war? Why are some so much more popular than others, and how do men and women differ in their interest? Starting with the combat of David versus Goliath, passing through the gladiatorial games, tournaments, trials by battle, duels, and board games such as chess, all the way to the latest simulations and computer games, this unique book traces the subject in all its splendid richness. As it does so, it provides new and occasionally surprising insights into human nature.

Contents:

Introduction: On wargames

On animals and men

Games and gladiators

Trials by combat, tournaments, and duels

Battles, campaigns, wars, and politics

From bloody games to bloodless wars

Enter the computer

The females of the species

Conclusions: The mirrors and the mirrored.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 08 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-107-35813-2

1-107-23853-6

1-107-34226-0

1-107-25584-8

1-107-34601-0

1-107-34851-X

1-139-57987-8

1-299-40897-4

1-107-34476-X

OCLC:

836864166