The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: Renaissance to Revolution, 1492–1792 (Cambridge Illustrated Atlases)

There were two books in this series, they should have done more. This is probably one of the most detailed military history books I have ever used, especially for the time range that is covered. You won't find more details outside of books written about the specific battle. This goes well beyond an atlas, having lots of history and the blow-by-blow that will work well with the detailed, easy to read maps. This is a must have for anybody interested in military history.

Both books in this series are excellent. The only criticism I have is it has so far not been expanded to cover either the Ancient world or the French Revolution and beyond.This particular volume is great for campaign maps and maps for conflicts outside Europe for the period covered very well. India in particular is covered very well.

Very informative look into how battles were fought in the Early Modern age

This book, and its companion, covering The Middle Ages, 768-1487 and Renaissance to Revolution, 1492-1792, though with different authors, form an elegant pair of references. They cover a period that is infrequently covered in much detail, and rarely illustrated with any maps, much less the excellent examples here. My primary use for these books is as aids when reading both history and, even more, historical fiction such as Sharon Kay Penman, Dorothy Dunnett and Neal Stephenson. These authors write intricately plotted tapestries that rely heavily on movements in historical time, but their publishers include only incidental maps. These volumes supply a much needed reference for readers who are not quite au courant with the 3rd Anglo Dutch War, or the rise of Maratha India. The accompanying text gives an adequate survey of the time, but the primary emphasis is `rightly on the illustrated portion. The maps are beautifully designed, and easily deciphered, covering both individual battles and broader strategic concepts.

Black's clear advantage was that the timeline span of the subject was avoided by most historians, probably because it's difficult to compile into a single piece of work. But, Black have done it in a fashion, arguably, very original than most historical atlases.The special maps and themes are divided into daunting blocks of adventure and you'll not stop until the last pages. There are new insights into the clashes between Portugal and Utsmani Devlet in and around the Indian Ocean.Let's hope more works come out from this author, at least from the Cambridge Series. In the end, you'll wish the pages were much longer as your thirst grew unbearable.

I really can't get into this series, but I should be able to. In theory, this should be my ideal history of warfare book, richly illustrated and with many maps (often lacking from military histories). But the text leaves me cold and feeling I'm missing something..

This isn't a bad book especially if you are looking for a good, general history of warfare during this time period.At times the author gets a little heavy handed with the political correctness. For example, he states in the preface how he wanted to move away from the "customary dominance by western European developments". Then on the very next page he says "it is all too easy to take a Eurocentric perspective..."Whatever. Can't historians just write their books nowadays without having to drag all this PC baggage around with them?If you can slog through the rhetoric this book isn't so bad.