Outschool
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Log In

Battling the Elements: The Impact of Weather and Terrain in Warfare

If you love Military History then you will love this class which explains the impact of weather on military operations, thus adding a new dimension to your understanding of warfare.
Keith (M.A. Military History)
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(354)
Popular
Class

What's included

24 live meetings
24 in-class hours

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 11
Beginner Level
War and Geography

“Those who do not know the conditions of mountains and forests, hazardous defiles, marshes and swamps, cannot conduct the march of an army.”   SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR


There has always been a potent and omnipresent synergy between the environment, or physical geography, and battle. 

Over the centuries efforts to dominate an adversary by military force have led to a grim progression of weapons, techniques, and principles, all designed more or less to gain control of space and lines of communication. Furthermore, aggressive human endeavor and the resulting repetition of conflict make it a near certainty that even more formidable and destructive wartime devices will appear in the future. Through all of this, past, present, and future, it is clear that basic elements of geography are always important factors in the conduct and outcome of battle.

Thus, by examining connections between a number of military operations and their basic geographic components, this class will show seemingly evident factors such as weather, climate, terrain, soil, and vegetation are important, cogent, and sometimes decisive in combat. It also demonstrates that war and the environment are intertwined in a complex, diverse, and often capricious fashion, the result being an ever-varying military cacophony incorporating repetition, counterpoint, juxtaposition, inversion, and reversal, all within the evolving framework of space and time. That is, comparisons of battles affected in a major way by one environmental factor may, in some cases, reveal distinct similarities and parallels, while in other conflicts the setting and outcome may be very different because of changes in circumstance technology, and judgment. One characteristic, however, remains unchanging; in combat an environmental advantage for one side always means some degree of misfortune for the other, and that situation can easily reverse itself on the next battlefield.

To keep things in proper perspective the student should know that this class is not intended to be a newly definitive work in military history or a technical analysis of contemporary physical geography. Instead it combines established facts and concepts from both disciplines to show that relationships between the environment and combat are highly variable, often unpredictable, and always formidable. 

Finally, the overarching message of the following lessons is that, despite the evolving technology in warfare, physical geography has a continuous, powerful, and profound effect on the nature and course of combat.


Introduction
War and Geography 

Week of  1. Storms, Fair Weather, and Chance
Kamikazes, Dunkirk, and Normandy 

Week of   2. Too Much and Too Wet
The Civil War Mud March and Flanders' Fields 

Week of  3. Clouds and Fog
The Bulge and Khe Sanh 

Week of  4. Invading Another Climate as Seasons Change
Napoleon and Hitler in Russia 

Week of  5. Forests and Jungles
The Wilderness and the Ia Orang Valley 

Week of  6. Terrains and Corridors
The American Civil War's Eastern Theater and
World War I Verdun 

Week of  7. Troubled Waters
River Crossings at Arnhem and Remagen 

Week of  8. Glaciers Shape the Land
Alpine Fighting and the Road to Moscow 

Week of  9. Peninsulas and Sea Coasts
Anzio and Inchon 

Week of  10. Island Battles
Tarawa and Iwo Jima 

Week of  11. Hot, Wet, and Sick
New Guinea and Dien Bien Phu

Week of  12. Heat, Rock, and Sand
The Western Desert and the Sinai

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Bibliography Foundations of Military Geography "Military Geography for Professionals and the Public" by John M. Collins Provides an overview of military geography and its applications for both professionals and general readers. "The Geography of Warfare: Strategies and Logistics" by John J. McGrath Examines the role of geography in shaping military strategies and logistics. "War and Geography: A Historical Perspective" by Geoffrey Parker Offers a historical perspective on how geographical factors have influenced warfare throughout the ages. Strategic and Tactical Geography "The Geography of War: From Classical to Contemporary" by Geoffrey Parker Discusses how geography has influenced military strategy from classical times to modern conflicts. "Strategic Geography and the Changing Middle East" by Andrew S. Erickson Analyzes the strategic geography of the Middle East and its implications for military strategy. "Geography and Strategic Intelligence" by Daniel P. Aldrich Explores how geographical factors are integral to strategic intelligence and decision-making in military contexts. Geographical Determinants of Warfare "Military Geography: For Professionals and the Public" by John M. Collins Provides detailed insights into how geographical elements influence military operations and strategies. "The Influence of Terrain on the Conduct of War" by David R. Montgomery Examines how different types of terrain affect military tactics and operations. "Terrain Analysis: A Guide for Military Professionals" by Robert H. Nelson A practical guide to analyzing terrain and its impact on military planning and execution. Modern Military Geography "Geospatial Intelligence: Theories and Practices" by Dawn J. Wright and Jeremy J. Crampton Covers the role of geospatial intelligence in modern military operations and its application in strategic planning. "The New Geography of Conflict: Challenges and Opportunities" by Michael D. Green Discusses contemporary geographical challenges in conflict zones and the opportunities they present for military operations. "Geography of Conflict: Issues in Strategy and Security" by B. G. Karlsson Provides an analysis of how geographical issues impact contemporary military strategy and security concerns. Historical and Regional Studies "The Geography of Conflict: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" by Eliot A. Cohen Offers a broad view of how geography has influenced military conflicts throughout history and into the modern era. "The Role of Geography in Military History" by Peter A. Lorge Examines specific historical case studies to understand the role of geography in military history. "War and Geography in the Early Modern World" by David B. Davis Analyzes how early modern military leaders used geographical knowledge to shape warfare. Technological and Geospatial Advances "The Impact of GIS on Military Operations" by Harrison M. Goodall Investigates how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are transforming military operations and strategy. "Geospatial Technologies and Military Operations" by Alan L. Murdock Focuses on the integration of geospatial technologies into military planning and operational processes. "Mapping Conflict: How Technology Shapes War" by Nina B. Young Discusses the role of mapping technologies in modern warfare and their impact on military strategy. Additional Readings "Military Geography: A Guide to the Principles of Geography in Warfare" by Joseph L. Furtado A foundational text on how geographical principles are applied in military contexts. "Geography and War: A Study of the Spatial Dimensions of Conflict" by Simon Dalby Explores the spatial dimensions of warfare and how geography affects military conflicts.
Joined September, 2020
5.0
354reviews
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in History from American Military University
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Maine at Farmington
Bachelor's Degree in History from Acadia University (Nova Scotia, Canada)
As a Social Studies teacher with 30 years experience and a huge fan of everything D&D I am very excited for this opportunity to share my enthusiasm and knowledge with Outschool students interested in Military History. Classes similar to the ones I have recently taught, I will bring to Outschool soon (e.g., The Greek hoplite experience during the Peloponnesian War). As an AP World & European teacher with overseas GCSE/A-Level/I.B. History experience I have thoroughly immersed myself in Ancient, Medieval and Modern History for the last thirty years. With a B.A. in History, a B.S. in Education and a M.A. in Military History I feel that I have a great deal of knowledge to subtly "sneak" into the fun and enjoyment during our classes. 

Reviews

Live Group Class
Share

$13

weekly or $300 for 24 classes
1x per week, 24 weeks
60 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-18 learners per class

About
Support
SafetyPrivacyCA PrivacyLearner PrivacyManage Data PreferencesTerms
Financial Assistance
Get The App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
© 2024 Outschool