Smithsonian History of Warfare - Wars of Empire

Often described as the high renaissance of Western imperialism, the nineteenth century was characterized by European conquest and colonial rule. Although imperialist power was on the rise, Douglas Porch refutes the notion that indigenous militias were easily overtaken by their European conquerors. Porch explores the rise of imperial power, and the reasons for the temporary supremacy of some of the empire builders, but he also examines why such far-flung empires ultimately proved to be unsustainable.