The snarls of beasts, the clash of steel, the cries of the victims, and the roar of the crowd - these are the gladiator games of ancient Rome. The heroes of these spectacles were the gladiators, who were idolized like today’s pop stars. This exciting book reveals the sometimes surprising facts about how these fierce combatants lived - and if they could not - how they tried to "die well."
When tanks roared onto the battlefield for the first time in World War I, these mechanical beasts changed how battles were fought and how wars were won. Tanks at War looks at the history of tanks, the always-changing technology of weaponry and armor, and how tactics for the use of tanks in battle have changed from a hundred years ago to modern conflicts today. Read about new technologies in the works for the future including robotic tanks and invisibility cloaking devices.
This compelling book follows the significant battles over the course of World War II. European countries and their colonies and allies, such as the United States and Canada, supplied forces for battles. Readers will learn that fighting took place in five parts of the world: western and eastern Europe, North Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia. New advances in technology since WWI led to fierce fighting on land, at sea, and in the air. Find out how victory was won or lost in such famous conflicts as the Battle of the Atlantic, Germany's Blitzkrieg, the Battle of Britain, Dieppe, Paris, Stalingrad, Berlin, Midway, Pearl Harbor, and the dropping of the atomic bombs.
A worldwide conflict, World War II involved alliances between political leaders and military forces from many different countries, including the United States and Canada. This fascinating book looks at key figures involved during this war of expansion by invasion. Brief biographies give details of the lives and actions of political leaders Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt, Truman, Stalin, Hirohito, and Tojo; military leaders Rommel, Goring, Donitz, Dowding, Pound, MacArthur, and Patton; as well as flying aces, code breakers, and activists.
This fascinating title sets the world scene in the two decades between the end of World War I and the start of World War II. Readers will get a snapshot of the political and economic situations around the world. Most countries experienced booming economies following WWI. But Germany, punished under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, suffered under great hardship. With the stock market crash in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed, the world found itself moving again toward war. Find out how the humiliation and poverty of the German people led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party - and a second world war.
What isn’t top secret in the military? Readers will be intrigued by the scientific ingenuity (past and present) brought about by wartime need, from field medicine innovations to weapons. A concluding chapter features “tomorrow’s secrets," or what military research is likely to yield in the future.
There were many real-life female fighters who wowed the ancient and modern worlds with their bravery and skills. This exciting book dives into the history of women who bravely fought—some to the death! Read about Cynane, the half-sister of Alexander the Great, who became the super-slayer of the ancient Greeks, and the rebel fighters Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, who repelled a stronger army and ruled Vietnam for three years.
In twelve dioramic scenes, discover how warships have changed from the sail and oar power of ancient Greek triremes and 19th century ships of the line to iron warships of the early 20th century and today’s modern aircraft carriers and stealth missile destroyers.
From the Mark I to the powerful turreted tanks of World War Two and the modern missile-firing, troop-carrying light tanks of today’s armies, twelve dioramic scenes reveal how the invention of the tank during World War One changed the face of warfare forever.
From the early human-powered submarines of the American Civil War to the U-boats of both world wars and the modern nuclear-powered missile platforms of the Cold War, twelve dioramic scenes reveal how submarines have become one of the most dangerous weapons of war.
From the first rockets used to fire arrows to modern computer-controlled cruise missiles and wire-guided High Explosive Anti-Tank Missiles, twelve dioramic scenes reveal how rockets and missiles have gradually become the primary weapons of mechanized warfare.
From the wood and canvas biplanes of World War One to the latest vertical takeoff stealth fighters and pilotless drones of the world’s air forces, twelve dioramic scenes reveal how combat aircraft have gradually become the sophisticated stealth machines of today.
From the first observation and medical helicopters of World War Two and the Korean War to the Air Cavalry of Vietnam and the missile-armed attack helicopters of today’s armies, twelve dioramic scenes reveal how helicopters have introduced a new dynamic into the way warfare is waged.
This high-interest title explores the history and lore behind battlefields around the world that are reported to be haunted. Readers will evaluate the eyewitness accounts and historical records of ghostly soldiers and other figures that haunt the sites of war and destruction. A narrative style weaves the spooky stories and clear text lays out the debunked or unexplained occurrences.
Young readers will dive right into this exciting new title! Deep-diving Submarines introduces readers to the different parts of a submarine and explains how these vehicles move through the water.
What qualities does it take to walk up to an unexploded bomb or mine, and coolly and calmly examine it? To slowly and painstakingly remove the cover and attempt to defuse it? To be completely alone while everyone else has taken cover? The rise of terrorism in the 21st Century and the evolution of car bombs and other improvised explosive devices mean that bomb disposal officers are in high demand once again in places as far apart as Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. This book looks at life as a bomb or mine disposal officer, and covers what sort of person becomes a bomb disposal officer: a day in the life; training; types of devices; and the history of bomb disposal from WW1 to the present day in Iraq, Israel, and Afghanistan.
There are no second places in aerial combat. Fighter pilots have perhaps the most dangerous job of all pilots - engaging other aircraft in order to shoot them down, or flying over enemy territory to drop bombs. Learning to master flying such a complex jet is only part of the job. Ultimately, a fighter jet is no more than a weapons platform, and the pilot must be better than his or her rivals in using the jet's weapons. This book will examine what it takes to become a fighter pilot; what the job is like; the jets and equipment required; and what its like to fly at twice the speed of sound in pursuit of an enemy.
In the age of 24-hour news television, some war correspondents have become media stars by "embedding" or attaching themselves to a particular military unit in order to follow and report on their activities. Journalists who report on conflicts keep the world's citizens up to date by showing the reality of war. In the last century, the safety of war correspondents was usually respected by both sides involved in a conflict. Not so in modern warfare. War correspondents not only have to fear being killed or wounded in an attack they are reporting on, they have increasingly become the direct targets of violence and kidnapping themselves. This book describes the dangerous process of reporting on war and steps correspondents take to ensure their safety.
An aircraft carrier is an enormous ship that acts as a runway on the water for jet aircraft to take off and land. Children will be amazed by the different kinds of ships designed to carry different kinds of aircraft, the different ways in which aircraft take off and land on carriers, and the carrier's role as a base on the water for aircraft.
The ultimate military society is explored in this book on the ancient Spartan civilization. From training methods to the famed Battle of Thermopylae, the heroics and failures of Sparta are uncovered.
“Victory or Death” — the famous and stirring words of William Barrett Travis were written in a letter from the Alamo to the people of Texas in February 1836. This and other brash and brave letters, first-hand accounts, and documents are skilfully deconstructed in this detailed examination of The Battle of the Alamo, a last stand that proved to be a turning point in Texas’ War of Independence from Mexico. Readers will learn about the events leading up to and after the battle, be able to separate fact from myth, and better understand the perspectives of both the Texans and Mexicans.
Using speeches, photos, and paintings of the time, as well as material that addresses historical context, The Civil War guides readers in critically examining primary and secondary source materials. Discussions include how emerging technologies such as photography and the telegraph affected the messages being conveyed, and how ideologies of the era shaped what was seen, as well as whose voices were heard—and whose were not. Readers will gain an understanding of the sad and brutal aspects of a war whose echo continues to have an impact even today.
This interesting book examines the events and people who were involved in the War of 1812 between the United States and what would later become Canada. Unusal for a war, the conflict ended with friendly relations established and no major loss of territory for either country. However, an examination of primary and secondary source materials reveals the War of 1812 is remembered differently in each country, as well as by the Indigenous peoples whose territory and dreams of an independent nation east of the Mississippi River vanished.
Tech to Protect explores many of the incredible technological innovations that are occurring in the defense industry, including weaponry and military hardware, as well as surveillance and cybersecurity programs. Robots and drones are replacing humans in combat situations and police officers and soldiers are being equipped with “superhuman” abilities through x-ray vision and exoskeletons. Young readers will also learn about the controversies some of these innovations are creating, including concerns over privacy.
Entrepreneurs who work and create businesses related to military services are instrumental in ensuring duty members—and civilians—are able to stay safe and protect themselves. From medical training methods to smart military vehicles and robotic technologies, this exciting title introduces readers to the ways entrepreneurs innovate in the military field. Detailed case studies of successful entrepreneurs and a hands-on project help readers understand the principles of entrepreneurship.