This is the latest revision of a meticulous and carefully organized reference work. As in previous editions (the most recent published in 1986 as the Encyclopedia of Military History), this compendium covers armed conflicts since 3500 B.C. This edition expands space devoted to the Near East, including the Persian Gulf War, the Soviet-Afghanistan War, and military operations in Lebanon. The invasions of Grenada and Panama by U.S. forces are discussed. Unlike the last edition (the second revised edition) in which the only new material was an addendum tacked onto the end of the book, revision is found throughout this volume. For instance, weapons used in ancient China receive more attention, reflecting recent scholarship and the author's own keen interest in weapons development. The chronological arrangement of the book fosters an understanding of world history and today's political boundaries and regional conflicts. The broader implications of specific battles and the introduction of new weapons are emphasized.

The encyclopedia's reference value is enhanced by clear line drawings of weapons and battle formations. One hundred seventy-four maps enable users to follow the narrative descriptions of battles and, in many cases, provide geographic orientation essential to understanding the political significance of a battle.

A selective bibliography is limited to books. However, many of the more important research publications are mentioned in the text. The index is divided into three parts: "General Index," "Index to Wars," and "Index of Battles and Sieges." It is an important feature of the encyclopedia since it is the best way to pinpoint information in the chronological arrangement.

This work complements the late Trevor Dupuy's last major effort, the six-volume International Military and Defense Encyclopedia [RBB Ag 93]. As were earlier editions, it will be useful in public and academic libraries.

作者简介

陈佳贵,一九四四年生,四川岳池县人,先后就读于中国人

民大学和中国社会科学院生院,获经济学硕士、博士学位。

曾在香港中文大学工商管理学院和美国科罗拉多大学经济学院院长

期研修,先后国家获国家有突出贡献的中国博士,国家级有突出贡

献的中青年专家,对社会科学作出突出贡献的专家等称号。现

任中国社会科学院工业经济研究所所长、研究员、中中国社会科学

研究生院教授,博士生导师。

长期以来主要从事企业改革和企业管理等问题的研究,曾参

与“首钢递增包干”、“重庆市综合改革试点”、‘六五’、“计

划总结》、：中国经济体制中期（一九八八一―一九九五）改革纲要”

“社会主义市场经济体制的理论思考与政策选择”等重大课题的研

究,先后出版著作（包括独著、合著和主编）有,“企业经营

与市场”、”工业组织体制改革“、”股份制的理论与实践

企业学”、“企业集团：目标模式与道路选择”、“市场经济

与企业制度创新”、“企业市场经济与企业经营”、“市场经济与

代企业制度”、“市场经济与企业组织结构变革等,十余部,发

表文集二百多篇,其中“市场经济与现代企业制度”一书曾获优

秀著作奖,十余篇论文获优秀论文奖。