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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. How does the author define "Grand Strategy"?

2. The author explains that it is essential to do what to the enemy's center?

3. What is true regarding decisive victories?

4. What was the state of generalship during the British Civil Wars?

5. According to the author, how did Turenne's military strategy change as the general aged?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a "natural line of expectation"?

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

3. Explain the concept of the "center" of a country's military power. What is the importance of "dislocating" this center?

4. Why were decisive results difficult to achieve during the British Civil Wars?

5. Why was Varro chosen to replace Fabius?

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

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

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

9. Describe some of Belisarius's conquests.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During the First World War, the Turkish theater saw the most mobile and strategic fighting of the war. Multiple invasions by France and England were fought back, and a vicious skirmishing guerrilla war was fought over the independence of emerging Arab states.

Part 1) Explain the importance of Turkey to the grand strategy of the first World War. Why did this country enter into the war, and what did it hope to gain? Why did the allies decide to invade this country directly?

Part 2) Discuss the war between Turkey and the western powers. What types of strategies were employed by each side? Why did France and England consistently fail to succeed in Turkey? Were the results of this war decisive or indecisive, and why?

Part 3) Discuss the war between Turkey and the Arab states. What distinct advantages and weaknesses did each side posses? Which side better utilized its own strengths and took most advantage of its enemy's weaknesses? What were the results of this conflict?

Essay Topic 2

William of Normandy exemplified the skilled military commander of the medieval era. His conquests changed the face of England forever.

Part 1) Explain the background of William of Normandy's invasion of England, including a discussion of his allies and their importance.

Part 2) Discuss one or more of William's most famous battles. How did these battles demonstrate the level of sophistication of strategies of the time?

Part 3) Did William achieve decisive or indecisive results? In either case, what strategic conditions contributed to these results? Explain the nature and importance of these results.

Essay Topic 3

The author's assessment of the first World War was that overall, there was a huge and unnecessary loss of life that resulted in no real decisive victories and lasting benefits for any nation. The author suggests that this monumental waste of life could have been avoided.

Part 1) Describe the overall losses during the first World War, as well as the results, decisive or indecisive.

Part 2) What factors led to the employment of largely direct methods? What individuals, technologies and other circumstances led to the employment of these strategies?

Part 3) How could the war have been managed differently if indirect methods had been employed instead? Use examples from the book to describe in detail ways that existing technology, military forces and doctrines could have been employed to achieve better results with less loss of life.

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