Sieges A Comparative Study

This book presents five sieges--Jerusalem, Malta, Sebastopol, Kut-al-Amara, and Singapore--for detailed analysis. The author utilizes the methodology developed by John Keegan to define sieges as a form of battle and to explore the "categories of combat"--those relationships of men versus weapons and the commitment to battle on the part of the contestants--which determine the outcome of battles and wars. Watson's unique study is a contribution to the study of siege warfare and provides a background for understanding Dien Bien Phu and the Gulf War, as well as contemporary global conflict.