Anchor Books</br></br>Product Description</br></br>Examining nine landmark battles from ancient to modern times--from Salamis?? where outnumbered Greeks devastated the slave army of Xerxes?? to Cortes??s conquest of Mexico to the Tet offensive--Victor Davis Hanson explains why the armies of the West have been the most lethal and effective of any fighting forces in the world.<br><br>Looking beyond popular explanations such as geography or superior technology?? Hanson argues that it is in fact Western culture and values?the tradition of dissent?? the value placed on inventiveness and adaptation?? the concept of citizenship?which have consistently produced superior arms and soldiers. Offering riveting battle narrati" a balanced perspective that avoids simple triumphalism?? <b>Carnage and Culture</b> demonstrates how armies cannot be separated from the cultures that produce them and explains why an army produced by a free culture will always have the advantage.</br></br>Amazon.com Review</br></br>Many theories have been offered regarding why Western culture has spread so successfully across the world?? with arguments ranging from genetics to superior technology to the creation of enlightened economic?? moral?? and political systems. In <I>Carnage and Culture</I>?? military historian Victor Hanson takes all of these factors into account in making a bold?? and sure to be controversial?? argument: Westerners are more effective killers. Focusing specifically on military power rather than the nature of Western civilization in general?? Hanson views war as the ultimate reflection of a society's character: "??a cultural crystallization in battle?? in which the insidious and more subtle institutions that heretofore are murky and undefined became stark and unforgiving in the finality of organized killing."> Though technological advances and superior weapons have certainly played a role in Western military dominance?? Hanson posits that cultural distinctions are the most significant factors. By bringing personal freedom?? discipline?? and organization to the battlefield?? powerful "hing democracies" were more apt to defeat non-Western nations hampered by unstable governments?? limited funding?? and intolerance of open discussion. These crucial differences often ensured victory even against long odds. Greek armies?? for instance?? who elected their own generals and freely debated strategy were able to win wars even when far outnumbered and deep within enemy territory. Hanson furt