Castles, Battles, and Bombs How Economics Explains Military
History Castles, Battles, and Bombs reconsiders key episodes of
military history from the point of view of economics—with
dramatically insightful results. For example, when looked at as
a question of sheer cost, the building of castles in the High
Middle Ages seems almost inevitable: though stunningly
expensive, a strong castle was far cheaper to maintain than a
standing army. The authors also reexamine the strategic bombing
of Germany in World War II and provide new insights into
France’s decision to develop nuclear weapons. Drawing on these
examples and more, Brauer and Van Tuyll suggest lessons for
today’s military, from counterterrorist strategy and military
manpower planning to the use of private military companies in
Afghanistan and Iraq. "In bringing economics into assessments of
military history, [the authors] also bring illumination. . . .
[The authors] turn their interdisciplinary lens on the mercenary
arrangements of Renaissance Italy; the