Birthright of War, is a collection of over thirty short essays on battles, wars, or revolutionary transformations that were pivotal to western history. From the Bronze Age to the today, Birthright of War examines how western civilizations developed through warfare and changed the world. This book is relevant to not only the scholar but also the history buff and those who simply wish to know more about the past. Birthright of War combines three previously published collections of short essays: Crucible of Civilizations: The Ancient Greeks; Discipline and Decline: The Ancient Romans; and Out of the Darkness: The Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Revolution with an introduction containing essays on Bronze Age warfare and an addendum with essays on modern warfare. Charles R. King is a historian who uses his unique background in physics and classical history to apply a quantitative examination to historical topics. He is also a career military officer who has not only seen modern combat up close, but has also had the opportunity to visit many of the significant battlefields and sites discussed in this work. Charles R. King is also the author of over a dozen other works of historical non-fiction.