
The Eurasian Way of War
Military Practice in Seventh-Century China and Byzantium
David A. Graff(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 12. January 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-138-47720-9 (ISBN)
Description
This book is a comparative study of military practice in Sui-Tang China and the Byzantine Empire between approximately 600 and 700 CE. It covers all aspects of the military art from weapons and battlefield tactics to logistics, campaign organization, military institutions, and the grand strategy of empire. Whilst not neglecting the many differences between the Chinese and Byzantines, this book highlights the striking similarities in their organizational structures, tactical deployments and above all their extremely cautious approach to warfare. It shows that, contrary to the conventional wisdom positing a straightforward Western way of war and an "Oriental" approach characterized by evasion and trickery, the specifics of Byzantine military practice in the seventh century differed very little from what was known in Tang China. It argues that these similarities cannot be explained by diffusion or shared cultural influences, which were limited, but instead by the need to deal with common problems and confront common enemies, in particular the nomadic peoples of the Eurasian steppes. Overall, this book provides compelling evidence that pragmatic needs may have more influence than deep cultural imperatives in determining a society's "way of war."
Reviews / Votes
'Graff 's intervention represents a compelling case study in how sedentary civilizations react to the amorphous threat of the "barbarian" other.'Gwyn Davies, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
342 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-138-47720-9 (9781138477209)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
04/2016
1st Edition
Routledge
€231.50
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
03/2016
Routledge
€67.49
Available for download

E-Book
03/2016
Routledge
€67.49
Available for download
Person
David A. Graff is Associate Professor of History at Kansas State University, USA. He is the author of Medieval Chinese Warfare, 300-900 (Routledge, 2002) and co-editor of the Journal of Chinese Military History.
Content
1. War and Culture
2. Resources and Institutions
3. Weapons and Tactics
4. The Army on Campaign
5. The Legacy of the Past
6. Contacts and Influences
7. The Shadow of the Steppe
8. Conclusion
2. Resources and Institutions
3. Weapons and Tactics
4. The Army on Campaign
5. The Legacy of the Past
6. Contacts and Influences
7. The Shadow of the Steppe
8. Conclusion