Mark W. Allen – författare

An excellent source of information on the current state of warfare research in archaeology. [It] chronicles the complex history of warfare in different time periods and world regions while simultaneously exploring the environmental and social variables that appear to have influenced if, when, how, and on what scale warfare was conducted."--Patricia M. Lambert, Utah State University"The study of warfare (or slavery) in the archaeological record requires a level of synthesis, temporal depth, and relational analysis that challenges the abilities and knowledge of all archaeologists. This volume presents an intriguing set of essays that are more than up to this challenge in many world areas. . . . Archaeologists, avocational archaeologists, and general readers interested in warfare in different social and ecological settings will be eager consumers."--David R. Wilcox, Northern Arizona UniversityThese essays explore the development of warfare in preindustrial, non-Western societies, addressing why some societies fight endemic wars while others do not and how frequent warfare affects the basic choices people make about where to live, whom to fight, on whom to confer power, and how to form social groups.Archaeological research dispels the myth of a peaceful past and demonstrates the sobering fact that war played a greater role in human prehistory than previously thought. These detailed regional case studies from leading archaeologists show the inextricable web of warfare and other social institutions and highlight their complex co-evolution in pre-state and early state societies.The volume includes chapters on the pre-Columbian cultures of North America of the last millennium, the origins of statehood in Mesoamerica and Neolithic China, a centuries-long sequence of warfare in Andean South America, warring peoples of Oceania, and East African cultures devastated by the slave trade. In addition, the contributors offer new insights into how to study warfare in the past and point toward new directions in this field.

Abstract Raymond Firth (1929) published The Economics of the New Zealand Maori, foundational to Economic Anthropology. Surprisingly, no book-length overview has been written since that takes advantage of a century of information from archaeology, Māori history, and contemporary theoretical perspectives. This Element examines profound changes in Māori society over seven centuries from initial colonization through to the early colonial period. This is critical for understanding a mixed economy reliant on hunting, fishing, gathering, and limited horticulture where issues of storage and defense of land were vital. Given the relatively recent first European contact and the vitality of Māori culture and history, a wealth of documentary information about traditional economic practices are available, a situation rare for traditional societies. It focuses on both the household and political economies, as well as exchange and specialization. The Element provides an exceptionally well-documented example of the interplay of economy, warfare, and incipient political centralization.

Abstract Raymond Firth (1929) published The Economics of the New Zealand Maori, foundational to Economic Anthropology. Surprisingly, no book-length overview has been written since that takes advantage of a century of information from archaeology, Māori history, and contemporary theoretical perspectives. This Element examines profound changes in Māori society over seven centuries from initial colonization through to the early colonial period. This is critical for understanding a mixed economy reliant on hunting, fishing, gathering, and limited horticulture where issues of storage and defense of land were vital. Given the relatively recent first European contact and the vitality of Māori culture and history, a wealth of documentary information about traditional economic practices are available, a situation rare for traditional societies. It focuses on both the household and political economies, as well as exchange and specialization. The Element provides an exceptionally well-documented example of the interplay of economy, warfare, and incipient political centralization.

How did warfare originate? Was it human genetics? Social competition? The rise of complexity? Intensive study of the long-term hunter-gatherer past brings us closer to an answer. The original chapters in this volume examine cultural areas on five continents where there is archaeological, ethnographic, and historical evidence for hunter-gatherer conflict despite high degrees of mobility, small populations, and relatively egalitarian social structures. Their controversial conclusions will elicit interest among anthropologists, archaeologists, and those in conflict studies.

How did warfare originate? Was it human genetics? Social competition? The rise of complexity? Intensive study of the long-term hunter-gatherer past brings us closer to an answer. The original chapters in this volume examine cultural areas on five continents where there is archaeological, ethnographic, and historical evidence for hunter-gatherer conflict despite high degrees of mobility, small populations, and relatively egalitarian social structures. Their controversial conclusions will elicit interest among anthropologists, archaeologists, and those in conflict studies.

Leader of the Pack recounts the incredible history of USS Batfish, a record-setting American World War II fleet submarine. Batfish entered the pantheon of military lore during its famous sixth patrol in February 1945, where it sank a record three Japanese submarines in seventy-six hours.In addition to offering a rousing and meticulously researched account of the famous sixth patrol, author and military historian Mark W. Allen unravels a nautical mystery that had gone unresolved for over sixty years: the identity of the first Japanese submarine sunk by Batfish skipper John K. Fyfe. Controversy has surrounded the identity of the first submarine almost since the day of the sinking, but Leader of the Pack, through a diligent recreation of the events that unfolded in the days leading up to the sixth patrol, solves the mystery once and for all. Lastly, Allen shares a personal story, never told before in such detail, of Batfishs rescue of three downed aviators who were forced to ditch their B-25 Mitchell bomber after it was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire during a bombing mission on the Japanese homeland.

How did warfare originate? Was it human genetics? Social competition? The rise of complexity? Intensive study of the long-term hunter-gatherer past brings us closer to an answer. The original chapters in this volume examine cultural areas on five continents where there is archaeological, ethnographic, and historical evidence for hunter-gatherer conflict despite high degrees of mobility, small populations, and relatively egalitarian social structures. Their controversial conclusions will elicit interest among anthropologists, archaeologists, and those in conflict studies.

How did warfare originate? Was it human genetics? Social competition? The rise of complexity? Intensive study of the long-term hunter-gatherer past brings us closer to an answer. The original chapters in this volume examine cultural areas on five continents where there is archaeological, ethnographic, and historical evidence for hunter-gatherer conflict despite high degrees of mobility, small populations, and relatively egalitarian social structures. Their controversial conclusions will elicit interest among anthropologists, archaeologists, and those in conflict studies.

Most books gloss over submarines at Midway and, if they are mentioned at all, conclude they failed miserably and had little impact on the outcome of the battle. It is undeniable that carrier aviation and intelligence saved the day, but the role of the submarine was an important one in defence of an anticipated amphibious assault.  Midway Submerged is a comprehensive examination of a little-known aspect of this pivotal naval battle, explaining how Nimitz used his submarines at Midway, and the Japanese misused theirs based on a flawed tactical plan. Based on in-depth archival research not only into the battle itself, but also submarine design and construction, and tactical and operational doctrine for both the United States and Japan, it brings a whole new dimension to the discussion of the battle of Midway. It examines the intended role of the submarine in the plans and doctrine of both navies, and what the submarines were expected to accomplish for both fleets during the battle, before assessing the actual accomplishments, successes, and failures of the submarine forces on both sides. Of particular importance, the book offers an analysis of how well these vessels fulfilled the expectations placed on them by their respective naval planners, concluding that submarines played a more important role in the outcome than has been previously understood.

"Naval history enthusiasts and military historians who enjoy taking deeper dives into the backgrounds of well-known battles, particularly concerning tactics and leadership, will appreciate this read. The book is enriched with well-captioned photos, diagrams, and very detailed appendices, which makes it an excellent reference work." —HistoryNetMost books gloss over submarines at Midway and, if they are mentioned at all, conclude they failed miserably and had little impact on the outcome of the battle. It is undeniable that carrier aviation and intelligence saved the day, but the role of the submarine was an important one in defense of an anticipated amphibious assault. Midway Submerged is a comprehensive examination of a little-known aspect of this pivotal naval battle, explaining how Nimitz used his submarines at Midway, and the Japanese misused theirs based on a flawed tactical plan. Based on in-depth archival research not only into the battle itself, but also submarine design and construction, and tactical and operational doctrine for both the United States and Japan, it brings a whole new dimension to the discussion of the battle of Midway. It examines the intended role of the submarine in the plans and doctrine of both navies, and what the submarines were expected to accomplish for both fleets during the battle, before assessing the actual accomplishments, successes, and failures of the submarine forces on both sides. Of particular importance, the book offers an analysis of how well these vessels fulfilled the expectations placed on them by their respective naval planners, concluding that submarines played a more important role in the outcome than has been previously understood.

This book uses Māori Kaupapa (a Māori approach, practice) to provide unique insights toward the anthropological understanding of power and place in Heretaunga, New Zealand. It examines the power of Māori leaders and ancient and modern archaeological and historical landscapes over the past six centuries. It highlights Māori warfare, characterized by impressive fortifications known as pā. Severe impacts of the colonial period are also discussed, including demographic calamity, changes in settlement pattern, and the innovative ways that Māori leaders sought to navigate the last half of the nineteenth century. Recent history and modern issues are examined as well, particularly the rise of tribal self-government. Importantly, the roles of female leaders are examined for each period. This book will be of interest across many disciplines for those interested in conflict and warfare, complex pre-state level societies, colonialism, power and women, and indigenous adaptions to globalization.