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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What characteristic of the English occupation of France during the Hundred Year's war argues for the results being indecisive?

2. According to the indirect method, which of the following is true regarding attacks on enemy resources and psychological conditions?

3. According to a famous quotation described at the beginning of the book, how important are moral conditions compared to physical conditions?

4. At the time of the Wars of Spanish Succession, what was the state of most European nations?

5. According to the author, what is the use or importance of ancient strategies?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the indirect method favorable over direct methods?

2. What were European nations like during the era of the Wars of Spanish Succession?

3. What was the Persian strategy in their first attack against Athens?

4. What were Prince Edward's accomplishments in the development of military technology and strategy?

5. What are some of the factors that caused the Germans to retreat and eventually surrender?

6. Explain the author's opinion on Sun Tzu's quotation about deception in warfare.

7. Explain Napoleon's famous quotation regarding moral and physical conditions.

8. What characterized the battles of William of Normandy?

9. Describe the changes that took place in France that led to Napoleon becoming ruler of that nation.

10. How did the large size of the Persian army in the second Greek and Persian war cause problems for the Persians?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most influential and successful military leaders in history. He turned France into a continent-spanning Empire and defeated nearly every opponent who stood before him.

Part 1) Explain the historical and political circumstances that allowed Napoleon to rise to power in France.

Part 2) Describe Napoleon's strategies. What types of methods did he employ? What were his typical tactical and strategic maneuvers? Overall, did he employ direct or indirect approaches?

Part 3) Explain Napoleon's eventual defeat. What factors of grand strategy contributed to this outcome? How could the course of Napoleon's wars have gone differently in order to forestall or prevent this turn of events?

Essay Topic 2

Hannibal achieved an unprecedented string of victories against Rome, beginning at the empire's furthest reaches and eventually threatening to sack the capital itself. Again and again he handed embarrassing defeats to Roman generals, and he nearly toppled the empire before it reached its height of power.

Part 1) Explain Hannibal's background and that of his homeland, Carthage.

Part 2) Describe Hannibal's overall military strategy, and the grand strategy of Carthage as a whole. Were these sets of goals aligned well, or did Hannibal experience political problems in carrying out his campaigns?

Part 3) Analyze at least one of Hannibal's battles in depth, including a discussion of the forces involved and the strategies employed by both sides.

Part 4) Discuss Hannibal's campaign in the Italian peninsula from a strategic perspective. What was his overall goal? Did he succeed in achieving decisive results? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Alexander the Great of Macedon is one of the most famed generals in history. His tactical maneuvers in battle are still studied to this day, but he was also a genius in the field of grand strategy.

Part 1) Explain Alexander's grand strategic goal, and his father's influence in creating and defining this goal.

Part 2) Find and explain one example of Alexander using the direct method of full scale combat to achieve part of his grand strategy.

Part 3) Find and explain an example of Alexander using indirect methods to forward his grand strategy. Explain why this action was indirect, and specifically how it advanced part of Alexander's overall goals.

Part 4) Explain at least one example of a long-lasting benefit gained through one of Alexander's decisive victories.

Part 5) Assess Alexander's accomplishments from a strategic standpoint and explain how successful he was in planning and executing his grand strategy.

(see the answer keys)

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