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Review: [T]he first systematic study of the fall of the Ming Dynasty from a military perspective...required reading for historians of the Ming and Qing. Military historians in general will find the book engaging as well. Summing Up: Highly recommended. - J Li, Columbia University, CHOICE This is a must-read book for anyone interested in the as yet under-researched military collapse of the Ming dynasty ... never has this subject enjoyed as thorough and thoughtful a study as in Kenneth Swope's landmark book ... It would be a misdirected effort to seek a single cause leading to the fall of the Ming dynasty, as Swope well knows, and reminding the reader of the intricate web of international connections is a necessary caveat. Still, while the military side is but one side of the whole story, it remains critical to a full historical assessment of the Ming demise. Nicola Di Cosmo, The Journal of Military History Swope's analysis is an important contribution that highlights the various reasons for the military collapse of the Ming state. Using many archival sources he provides a fascinating synopsis of the complex events including detailed accounts of military operations, careful analysis of strategic-tactical concepts and portraits of the involved actors and their relations among each other. The book is informative and exciting and will not only attract Ming and military historians but also those who are interested in the rise and fall of the great powers. Kai Filipiak, The Journal of Asian History [T]he first systematic study of the fall of the Ming Dynasty from a military perspective...required reading for historians of the Ming and Qing. Military historians in general will find the book engaging as well. Summing Up: Highly recommended. - J Li, Columbia University, CHOICE This is a must-read book for anyone interested in the as yet under-researched military collapse of the Ming dynasty ... never has this subject enjoyed as thorough and thoughtful a study as in Kenneth Swope's landmark book ... It would be a misdirected effort to seek a single cause leading to the fall of the Ming dynasty, as Swope well knows, and reminding the reader of the intricate web of international connections is a necessary caveat. Still, while the military side is but one side of the whole story, it remains critical to a full historical assessment of the Ming demise. Nicola Di Cosmo, The Journal of Military History Swope's analysis is an important contribution that highlights the various reasons for the military collapse of the Ming state. Using many archival sources he provides a fascinating synopsis of the complex events including detailed accounts of military operations, careful analysis of strategic-tactical concepts and portraits of the involved actors and their relations among each other. The book is informative and exciting and will not only attract Ming and military historians but also those who are interested in the rise and fall of the great powers. Kai Filipiak, The Journal of Asian History
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