Discusses the historical changes from which the European wars of the twentieth century emerged, examining international relations, political and social changes, and the effects of industrialization on the world

REPRINT. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: LONDON : METHUEN, 1946. Includes index.

"The lessons of history" : An inaugural lecture given in the University of Oxford, March 1981 -- Empires, nations and wars -- Prussia in European history -- Empire, race and war in pre-1914 Britain -- The Edwardian arms race -- Men against fire : the doctrine of the offensive in 1914 -- Europe on the eve of the First World War -- 1945-end of an era? -- Ideology and international relations -- Churchill and the era of national unity -- War and social change -- Military experience in European literature -- Structure and process in history : a valedictory lecture given in the University of Oxford, May 1989.