Böcker av Stephen Turnbull

Featuring specially commissioned artwork and maps, carefully chosen illustrations and insightful analysis, this book examines the legendary Mongol warriors and their vastly different European opponents. Having conquered much of Central Asia by 1237, the Mongols advanced into the northern Caucasus. The fall of several key centres such as Riazan and Vladimir was followed by Mongol victory at Kiev. Moving west, in 1241 two Mongol armies achieved stunning victories at the battles of Liegnitz in Poland and the Sajo River (Mohi) in Hungary, before suffering their only reverse of the campaign at the fortress of Klis. The Mongol forces regrouped in Hungary to prepare for a further advance into Austria and Germany, but the death of their leader, Ogedei Khan, meant that his generals were required to return to Mongolia to choose a successor. Smaller Mongol forces would return to raid in the years to come, but never again would Western Europe be threatened as it was in 1242.Fully illustrated, this innovative study of the forces that clashed during the Mongol invasion of Europe between 1237 and 1242 allows a comparison to be made between the all-conquering nomad horsemen of the steppes and the mounted knights of the West.

A completely new and original take on 16th century samurai history and Japan's military revolution.During the sixteenth century Japan's medieval period was left behind as the samurai experienced a military revolution that involved the introduction of rearms and the mobilization of large armies who fought from stone castles. The history of this violent time is perfectly encapsulated in the campaigns waged by five generations of one outstanding warlord family: the Hojo of Odawara Castle. In 1487 the dynasty's founder attacked a wooden stockade using bows and arrows; in 1590 his great-great grandson defended a huge castle using cannons. Successive Hojo warlords were contemporaries of famous samurai such as Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin and Oda Nobunaga, whose armies they fought and defeated, but their end came at the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the "Napoleon of Japan", who defeated the Hojo in a massive siege of their mighty castle of Odawara. This book tells the story of a century of warfare using Japanese sources not previously translated into English. It is spectacularly illustrated with photographs of armor and weapons plus newly-commissioned artwork. Detailed and authoritative accounts of the campaigns show the Hojo samurai using 'every trick in the book' from sea raiding to ninja attacks. There are also many surprises, such as the use of dogs as messengers and the revelation that the final siege of Odawara in 1590 was no easy matter. When the Hojo dynasty came to its glorious end and their last patriarch committed hara-kiri, Japan and samurai warfare were changed forever.

Japanese civilisation and its unique culture has often represented an enigma to the rest of the world. In this anthology a large number of experts explore Japan s history and aspects of the Japanese quest for a national identity and what it means to the rest of the world through topics like architecture, religion, manga, Christianity in Japan and the Samurais.

The first ever account of Japanese overseas mercenaries.

Produced with the full cooperation of the Department of Ninja Studies at Mie University in Japan, where the author is Visiting Professor. This is the only academic institution in the world devoted to the study of ninja.

This unique book tells for the first time the violent story of the siege of Tanaka based on never-before translated war chronicles, maps, and fieldwork.

Set in the year 1789 and based on the original ninja manuals of that era, this witty and informative secret manual equips readers with all the tools needed to become a master of ninjutsu.

A witty, informative and highly entertaining guide to how to be a pirate, combining historical accuracy with a humorous eye in an irreverent but revealing look at the world of piracy and buccaneering.

This is an historical account of the Mongol conquests of 1190-1400, including the rise of Genghis Khan and the unification of the tribes. It examines the strategies, tactics and logistics that enabled the Mongols to fight successfully against enemies as far apart as Prussia and Korea.

First major study in English of the Japanese 'hidden' Christians and the development of the faith and rituals from the 16th century to the present day.

This is the authoritative reference on samurai life and warfare published outside of Japan.