Tag: academic

Alexander Mikaberidze interview about Napoleonic military history book “The Napoleonic Wars” (Oxford University Press, 2020)

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Alexander Mikaberidze Napoleonic Wars interview
Alexander Mikaberidze Napoleonic Wars

Alex Mikaberidze Napoleonic Wars Interview

Interview Summary

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/308FVxH

Alex Mikaberidze has been studying and writing on the Napoleonic Wars and Middle Eastern history for many years. He recently completed a ten year project writing on the global impact of the Napoleonic wars. We spoke about the Napoleonic wars, Napoleon, the War of 1812, and the process of writing the book.

(THE AUDIO PLAYER IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST.)

0:43 – Alex talks about how he became interested in the Napoleonic Wars.

2:32 – Alex talks about the languages he knows and its applications to this research.

3:33 – Alex talks about how his history of the Napoleonic Wars is different from other books on the subject.

9:07 – Alex talks about the various impacts of the Napoleonic Wars.

12:45 – Alex talks about the economics of the Napoleonic Wars.

16:58 – Alex talks about the importance of Napoleon in everything that happened in this period.

20:45 – Alex talks about why Napoleon made himself Emperor and what effects that had.

25:56 – Alex talks about how some Russians were happy that Napoleon made himself an Emperor.

27:06 – Alex talks about Napoleon not being a warmonger and his immense intellectual curiosity.

29:38 – Alex talks about Napoleon being a micro-manager.

32:46 – Alex talks about why the Russians did not surrender to Napoleon when he took Moscow.

38:41 – Alex discusses what might have happened if Napoleon had abolished serfdom in Russia.

39:31 – Alex talks about the military changes engendered by the Napoleonic Wars.

41:24 – Alex talks about changes in the Ottoman military.

43:22 – Alex talks about changes in the Iranian military.

45: – Alex talks about the political changes caused by the Napoleonic Wars especially with Spain and its colonies.

49:16 – Alex talks about what countries gained the most and lost the most from the Napoleonic Wars.

51:49 – Alex talks about British wins in India and Africa due to the wars. He discusses the rise of Russian power after the Napoleonic Wars.

54:58 – Alex talks about how badly France, Spain, and Portugal ended up after the wars.

56:49 – Alex talks about how he did his research and the main archives her used.

58:20 – Alex talks about the places he visited for his research.

1:01:00 – Alex talks about the tug of war between modernization and tradition during the Napoleonic Wars.

1:03:28 – Alex talks about Napoleon’s refusal to make a compromise deal in 1813.

1:05:51 – Alex about the writing and publishing process.

1:09:57 – Alex talks about research into the Louisiana Purchase and American and Russian competition in western North America.

1:14:33 – Alex can be found on facebook and on the Louisiana State University Shreveport website.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/308FVxH

https://www.lsus.edu/alexander-mikaberidze

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Guests: Alexander Mikaberidze

Host: Cris Alvarez

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/308FVxH

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How US artillery dominated the Iraq military in the First Gulf War – Interview with L. Scott Lingamfelter

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How US artillery dominated the Iraq military in the First Gulf War – Interview with L. Scott Lingamfelter

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/3e5qbza

Interview Timeline

L. Scott Lingamfelter was a senior Artillery Officer and Middle East expert when he participated in the First Gulf War as XO of 1st ARTY. He wrote a book detailing his time in that war, including tactical and operational issues, and his thoughts about the geopolitical and strategic aspects of the war. We spoke about the book and the war. Desert Redleg (University Press of Kentucky, 2020)

0:41 – Scott talks about why he wanted to write about his experiences in the First Gulf War.

1:34 – Scott talks about the start of his career in 1973 as an artillery officer and as a Middle East specialist.

3:12 – Scott talks about the use of artillery between the Vietnam War and the First Gulf War.

6:58 – Scott talks about the logistics of moving artillery into the Gulf War theater.

9:43 – Scott talks about the artillery that the division used.

12:15 – Scott talks about the obstacles they faced once they were in the Middle East.

15:23 – Scott talks about the placement of the artillery units and their protection.

18:19 – Scott talks about the size of the division and armament.

19:56 – Scott talks about counter fire.

21:32 – Scott talks about the other threats to the safety and health of the Division. He discusses unexploded and failed ordnance.

24:26 – Scott talks about the threat of chemical attack.

28:03 – Scott talks about dealing with dust and heat.

29:48 – Scott talks about instilling hygiene practices among the troops.

32:47 – Scott talks about resupply issues and the Tapline Road.

35:51 – Scott talks about the casualties on the Tapline Road.

37:29 – Scott talks about what the damage they had wrought in Iraq was like.

40:02 – Scott discusses the amount of firepower used in the First Gulf War.

44:22 – Scott discusses the combat effects of the artillery on enemy morale.

46:21 – Scott talks about the Vietnam veterans that developed the Air-Land battle concept used in the Gulf War.

47:35 – Scott talks about how he presents information in the book.

52:12 – Scott talks about coordination between foreign partners and with other services.

55:09 – Scott was surprised by the dud rate when he went back to his notes. He was also surprised at how good his diary notes were.

59:06 – Scott talks about how he expected the US to return to Iraq to fight Saddam again.

1:01:31 – Scott talks about how he almost became General Schwarzkopf’s aide-de-camp.

1:03:08 – Scott talks about how the book is written from a tactical point of view.

1:06:42 – Scott talks about getting the book written and published. He had to write some difficult things as he saw them.

1:10:11 – Scott be found at copybookwarrior.com. Readers can use the code FS30 on the University Press of Kentucky until the end of July to get 30% of the book.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/3e5qbza

https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813179209/desert-redleg/

https://www.copybookwarrior.com

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Guests: L. Scott Lingamfelter

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, academic, podcast, University Press of Kentucky, Modern War, United States,

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/3e5qbza

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Georgios Theotokis interview about his Tenth century Byzantine military history book “Byzantine Military Tactics in Syria and Mesopotamia in the 10th century” (Edinburgh University Press, 2018)

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Georgios Theotokis Byzantium

Georgios Theotokis interview about Byzantine military history in the 10th century

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/3kbS9gO

Interview Summary

Georgios Theotokis studies warfare in medieval Europe and the Mediterranean.  He’s written extensively on this subject and we spoke about his latest book on the Byzantine and Arab militaries in the tenth century.

0:51 – Georgios talks about how he got into writing a book on the tenth century Byzantine military. 

2:51 – Georgios talks about the military situation at the time period the book focuses on. 

4:10 – Georgios talks about the book.  It’s a comparison of military cultures of the period.

6:49 – Georgios talks about the Byzantium grand strategy. He also touches on tactics and equipment.

11:15 – Georgios touches on espionage in the period.

14:15 – Georgios talks about border security during the period.

20:16 – Georgios talks about how control is established in the towns of the border.

24:40 – Georgios talks about raids and skirmishes on the border.

28:31 – Georgios talks about how borders changed during this period.

34:32 – Georgios compares the equipment of the Arab and Byzantium militaries in the tenth century. He talks about heavy infantry among other types of units.

37:51 – Georgios talks about the evidence, documents and such, that support his research.

40:12 – Georgios talks about the evidence that informs researchers about the military equipment – armor or weapons.

45:12 – Georgios talks about why saints in Greek and Anatolian churches were painted wearing contemporary armor and weapons.

52:24 – Georgios talks about the discoveries that he would most like to see happen in relation to his work. 

54:50 – Georgios mentions about the battles of Tarsus and Al-Hadat. 

1:06:10 – Georgios has a page on academia.edu.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/3kbS9gO

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-byzantine-military-tactics-in-syria-and-mesopotamia-in-the-10th-century.html

http://bogaziciuniversity.academia.edu/GeorgiosTheotokis

Contact information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar

Guests: Georgios Theotokis

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, academic, podcast, Edinburgh University Press, Medieval warfare, 

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/3kbS9gO

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.