First published 1995
War represents humanity's invention, not an inevitable force of nature. Robert O'Connell examines this institution from its origins to its approaching end. He defines war as organized group conflict with political goals, directed by government structures and intended for lasting results. Only ants conduct similar warfare, but genes drive them while culture drives humans. O'Connell locates war's birth around 5500 BC when pastoralists raided Middle Eastern farming settlements. Farmers built defensive walls, triggering cycles of military development and urban complexity. Ancient civilizations used warfare to manage volatile populations during famines and epidemics. Armies conquered territory during overpopulation or captured slaves when labor was scarce. O'Connell examines how Sumeria, Egypt, Assyria, China, and New World societies adapted warfare to their circumstances. Trade-based societies like Minoan Crete remained peaceful and egalitarian, while warrior cultures like Assyria made combat an end in itself. The industrial revolution disrupted these ancient patterns. War no longer serves its demographic functions, suggesting this age-old human institution may finally be reaching its conclusion.
Genres: history, political-science, sociology, non-fiction, military-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, historical-non-fiction
Setting: Middle East, Sumeria, Egypt, Assyria, China, Minoan Crete
Period: 5500 BC, Industrial Revolution
Hardcover · Oxford University Press