The fifty military leaders who most changed the world weren’t necessarily the “best” leaders, the most innovative strategists, the craftiest tacticians, or even the bravest, smartest, or most admirable people. They were, however, the individuals who, for better or worse, entered the field of battle and left the world an irrevocably different place upon their exit. 50 Military Leaders Who Changed the World presents fascinating, historically detailed portraits of the rulers, warlords, generals, admirals, and military specialists whose actions on (and sometimes off) the battlefield left an indelible mark on world history of the past 4,000 years. Some are famous, some are infamous, and some made their military mark with the pen rather than the sword. The one thing they all have in common is that their actions had consequences whose historical impact is still felt today. The personalities profiled span the globe from Asia to America and encompass all manner of notoriety: hero (and heroine) and villain, combatant and theoretician. Some, such as Genghis Khan, were brilliant. Others, such as Ivan the Terrible, were mediocre generals, at best. Joan of Arc is officially a saint, while Adolf Hitler is universally considered a monster, yet both were instrumental in shifting the balance of world power in their times. George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant had distinguished military pedigrees that forged their prowess in war. Mao Zedong was a peasant politician who led a social revolution powered by military might. You may be familiar with some of the men and women in this book. You may revere some and revileothers. But after reading 50 Military Leaders Who Changed the World, you won’t deny that these are the individuals who made the greatest impact on humankind’s brief history on this planet.