We Value Your Privacy

This site uses cookies to improve user experience. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies.

I UNDERSTAND
LEARN MORE

Military History Articles

There’s no way around it; history has been shaped by the outcome of innumerable wars and battles fought over everything from religion to territorial disputes to outright revenge over a perceived injustice. Learning about these conflicts is vital to understanding the world we live in today.

Our military coverage spans the ancient world through the Cold War. Discover epic medieval clashes, or fierce battles that caused entire ancient civilizations to crumble. Examine the political intricacies of sprawling conflicts like the Seven Years’ War or the War of Spanish Succession. Explore the devastation of the World Wars, or the fresh conflicts they left in their wake.

There’s also the fascinating evolution of weapons from the Stone Age through the nuclear arms race, as well as the changing military theories and strategies (or lack thereof) powering key decisions. Or you can discover a unique study of how contagious diseases have impacted the outcome of every war in America’s history, from skirmishes with Native Americans to 20th-century biological warfare. 

True stories about the people who fought these conflicts put a human face to the cost of war. You can learn about the Soviet Union’s Night Witches (an all-female regiment of fighter pilots), discover the Mapuche people’s centuries-long military resistance against the Spanish conquistadors, or read war books written by those who were actually there. Whatever draws you into military history, we’re exploring every angle of the conflicts that caused empires to rise and fall, reshaping our world in the process.

1f5ec6bb3d7e-thearchive-tag-feature.png

10 Naval History Books to Dive Into Right Now

From the Spanish Armada to Pearl Harbor and beyond.

The Tuskegee Airmen: The First Black U.S. Military Pilots

Courageous Black pilots led the way for desegregation in the U.S. Armed Forces. 

Winston Churchill’s Favorite Books

Judging from his reading list, Winston Churchill clearly thought a lot about the Roman Empire.

The Macabre Way Early Sailors Refreshed Their Wardrobes

Learn why some sailors were hesitant to use the “slop chest.”

The Battle of Peleliu was the Marines' Bitterest Fight in WWII

Read about a hard-fought battle that was supposed to be won in only four days. 

The Pig War of 1859

An unusual and nearly forgotten conflict.

The Filming of Star Wars Almost Started a Real-Life War in North Africa

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away…there was a massive misunderstanding!

The Great Game: Russia and Britain's Imperialistic Rivalry

They fought for influence in Central Asia throughout the 19th century.

Delve into the Deadly, Insurmountable Odds of Custer’s Last Stand

This unexpected U.S. defeat was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876.

In 1708, the Spanish Galleon San José Sank—And So Did Its Treasure

Somewhere off the coast of Colombia, a treasure worth billions lies on the ocean floor.

This Civil War Amputee Led the First Expedition Through the Grand Canyon

Learn about the eventful life of John Wesley Powell—professor, Civil War veteran, and explorer of the American West. 

The Mysterious Execution of Mussolini

As his dictatorship came crumbling down, he was captured while trying to flee the country.

8 Books About the Dark Ages

Learn more about this mysterious period of history.

Why the Air Force Bombed Montana During World War II

They were actually coming to a small town's rescue.