Book Analysis of Ideas and Weapons by Irving Brington Holley - Essay Example

This paper extensively examines the perspectives of war according to different scholars and the development of weapons. It also deals with the development of warfare from ancient societies up to the current, sophisticated forms of attacks. Ideas and Concepts There are several ideas and questions according to Keegan warfare. He strongly believes that war has a historical factor. For instance, he is a proponent of Clausewitzian framework, which he describes as being great in providing the foundation of examining warfare but fails to answer some pertinent questions.

He tries to answer the question, what is war? In addition, how did war start? Specifically he notes that war has a cultural phenomenon (Keegan 56). War culturally came from militaristic way of life in Europe as compared to other historians who define it as the political struggle. Keegan proves extensively that culture is the focal point to describe warfare. Irving Brington Holley, on the other hand, brings the idea that development of weapons happened in steps (Holley 34). It is from his fact that those who used the modern weapons had victorious win over their rivals.

The allies to the modern US with modern weapons could access the tools and protect themselves better. He provides a well thought idea that the need to get better protection of the US created the need to develop new and advance models of weapons to use in the war. The weapons made in this case were to be used by the American Air force. Themes and Propositions According to Keegan, many people lived unpretentious and pastoralist lifestyles until their cultural attitudes changed towards violence.

He proves this by examining four groups of people who lived pastoralist lifestyle (Keegan 66). First, the Zulu originally from Sothern part of Africa lived a gentle life. The Shaka invaded and interrupted Zulu’s lifestyle through attacks, which sparked a war between the two communities. He categorically states that the war intended to protect the cultural systems that existed (Holley 56). More so, through Samurai of Japan, Keegan identifies war as culture protection being one of the aspects that cause it.

Irving in his views divided his thoughts about ideas and weapons in three classes. Mainly the three classes are involved with supporting aerial weapons development that could be utilized in the world wars. First and far most, he identifies pursuit as a technique to hunt for the enemy. The US tacked down the skies of Europe to get areas of interest to attack (Holley 67). The second-class was the observation of key areas from the sky to be sure of attacking the correct areas. The last class included final stage, which was to bomb the targeted areas in Europe.

He further notes that the minds of those who were responsible for innovating field operational aircrafts were to protect the US interests. The field aircrafts helped US to strike directly at the European ground forces and get away without any injuries. The Europeans were greatly defeated because of lack of sophisticated weapons against their opponent. It made all the US allies admire the innovation that was in place both in the First World War and the Second World War. Similarities and Differences Keegan divides warfare history in four main eras.

They include iron, flesh, fire and stone. Each era marks a transition in the innovation of warfare right away from the strengthening and gradual development of the armies. Keegan creatively brings out different kinds of warfare in