How Long to Read A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1

How Long Does it Take to Read A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1?

It takes the average reader 4 hours and 46 minutes to read A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1 by Alexander Gillespie

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

This unique new work of reference traces the origins of the modern laws of warfare from the earliest times to the present day. Relying on written records from as far back as 2400 BCE, and using sources ranging from the Bible to Security Council Resolutions, the author pieces together the history of a subject which is almost as old as civilisation itself. The author shows that as long as humanity has been waging wars it has also been trying to find ways of legitimising different forms of combatants and regulating the treatment of captives. This first book on warfare deals with the broad question of whether the patterns of dealing with combatants and captives have changed over the last 5,000 years, and if so, how? In terms of context, the first part of the book is about combatants and those who can 'lawfully' take part in combat. In many regards, this part of the first volume is a series of 'less than ideal' pathways. This is because in an ideal world there would be no combatants because there would be no fighting. Yet as a species we do not live in such a place or even anywhere near it, either historically or in contemporary times. This being so, a second-best alternative has been to attempt to control the size of military forces and, therefore, the bloodshed. This is also not the case by which humanity has worked over the previous centuries. Rather, the clear assumption for thousands of years has been that authorities are allowed to build the size of their armed forces as large as they wish. The restraints that have been applied are in terms of the quality and methods by which combatants are taken. The considerations pertain to questions of biology such as age and sex, geographical considerations such as nationality, and the multiple nuances of informal or formal combatants. These questions have also overlapped with ones of compulsion and whether citizens within a country can be compelled to fight without their consent. Accordingly, for the previous 3,000 years, the question has not been whether there should be a limit on the number of soldiers, but rather who is or is not a lawful combatant. It has rarely been a question of numbers. It has been, and remains, one of type. The second part of this book is about people, typically combatants, captured in battle. It is about what happens to their status as prisoners, about the possibilities of torture, assistance if they are wounded and what happens to their remains should they be killed and their bodies fall into enemy hands. The theme that ties all of these considerations together is that all of the acts befall those who are, to one degree or another, captives of their enemies. As such, they are no longer masters of their own fate. As a work of reference this first volume, as part of a set of three, is unrivalled, and will be of immense benefit to scholars and practitioners researching and advising on the laws of warfare. It also tells a story which throws fascinating new light on the history of international law and on the history of warfare itself.

How long is A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1?

A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1 by Alexander Gillespie is 278 pages long, and a total of 71,724 words.

This makes it 94% the length of the average book. It also has 88% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1 Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 6 hours and 31 minutes to read A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1 aloud.

What Reading Level is A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1?

A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1 is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1?

A History of the Laws of War: Volume 1 by Alexander Gillespie is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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