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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. Which general is attributed to stating and frequently reciting the famous line given in this chapter about the relative importance of the moral and the physical?

2. How does the author characterize the France that develops under Napoleon?

3. When did Belisarius carry out his wars of reconquest?

4. What type of new military technology is discussed in depth at the beginning of the book?

5. What is the author's assessment of the strategies employed in the the First World War?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What characterized the battles of William of Normandy?

3. What was Marlborough's style of generalship and why was he not able to fully employ it?

4. How did Constable du Geusclin overcome English technological superiority?

5. Describe the war between the Byzantines and the Vandals.

6. What is the relationship between grand strategy and long-lasting gains?

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

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

9. Describe the nature of the Wars of Spanish Succession. What kinds of strategies were used, and what was unique about these wars?

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

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 2

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?

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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