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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. The Wars of Spanish Succession were strongly affected by what factor in Europe?

2. Marlborough was notable for his use of what stratagems?

3. In what way did Caesar excel as a general?

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

5. According to the author, which of the following strategies have been known and used by intelligent generals dating back to ancient times?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What instigated the Byzantine war against the Vandals?

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

4. What factors led to Greek victory in the first war between Greece and Persia?

5. What was Belisarius's general strategy?

6. What were the strategies of the French and Germans during the First World War?

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

8. What was the overall state of military strategy in William of Normandy's time?

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

10. Why was Varro chosen to replace Fabius?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Hitler achieved military success, he was strategically unsuccessful in achieving large-scale lasting benefits for his country. Hitler needed to achieve peace, but failed to do so.

Part 1) What was the German grand strategy in World War II? What conditions would have been necessary for Germany to secure its military gains?

Part 2) How did Hitler attempt to satisfy these conditions? Explain any major elements that Hitler either misjudged or did not appropriately address.

Part 3) Ultimately, why was Hitler's grand strategy flawed? What major factors contributed to his failure to achieve large-scale decisive victory?

Essay Topic 2

Guerrilla warfare has been employed throughout history, but has flourished into a well-studied and effective method of warfare only within the last century.

Part 1) What is guerrilla warfare, and how does it differ from conventional warfare? What forces and methods are employed under this strategy?

Part 2) What factors led to the increased use of guerrilla warfare during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? Provide some examples from the book of the increasing use of this strategy.

Part 3) What major advantages and disadvantages does guerrilla warfare lead to? Under what conditions should a nation resort to these means?

Part 4) Summarize the overall historical effectiveness of guerrilla warfare, using examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

The British Civil Wars represented a high point in military strategy. The well-developed techniques of the time led to elegant set-piece battles, but unfortunately, these rarely led to decisive results.

Part 1) Explain the nature of the British Civil Wars. Who were the major combatants? What resources did they have in technology, manpower and leadership?

Part 2) What was the state of generalship during these wars? What methods and strategies were prominent?

Part 3) Why did most engagements during these wars fail to lead to decisive results?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 911 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample