Master narratives in military history: Europe 1789 to 1900

Abstract

In the past 40 years, interpretations of European military history during the “long nineteenth century” (1789-1914) have retained much of their post-Second World War fascination with the Prusso-German military system. Moreover, British military history of the period continues to dominate Anglophone historiography. These Anglo-German master narratives need to be refocused on the larger European context. As a result, the military history of this era should equally integrate the wars of Empire and their impact on continental European armies. Finally, if scholars are to truly understand war in the Industrial Age, the obsession with technological determinism must be properly tempered. When contextualized, leadership – not technology – proved a more decisive factor in the outcome of European wars between the French Revolution and the First World War.