weekly
or for 24 classes
Battling the Elements: The Impact of Weather and Terrain in Warfare
New class
Ages 13-18
Live Group Class
Live video meetings
1x per week, 24 weeks
3-18 learners per class
60 min
What's included
24 live meetings
24 in-class hoursClass 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.
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
3 Degrees
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
Keith (M.A. Military History) suggests this class next...
1:1 Private Tutoring: Military History
Keith (M.A. Military History)
5.0
(368)
per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
12-18
Other classes by Keith (M.A. Military History)
Other classes by Keith (M.A. Military History)
Related categories
Parents also liked
Weekly Weather Watchers: Let's Talk Current Weather & Natural Disasters
Amber Bottensek, B. ED.
5.0
(602)
per class
Next session at 5:10 PM on Tuesday
Group Class
1/wk, 30 min
5-10
Weather and Climate: Guide for Students With Disabilities
Susan Asplund MSW/MAT/TESOL - ACE Educator
5.0
(301)
per class
Group Class
10 wks, 1/wk, 45 min
11-14
Climate Science: Facts and Fallacies
Tamera Hunter
5.0
(3)
per class
Next session at 9 PM today
Group Class
1/wk, 1 hr
11-14
WAUL Weather Science: Tornados
Wild and Unstructured Learning
4.8
(1,121)
per class
Next session at 1 AM on Sun 3/9
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 40 min
6-9
Weather Wonders: The Art and Science of Tornadoes
Peyton Stevenson
per class
Next session at 9 PM on Sunday
Group Class
2 wks, 1/wk, 1 hr
13-16
Weird Weather: Tornado Lore and Facts
Colette Davis
5.0
(2)
per class
Next session at 11 PM on Fri 3/7
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 55 min
10-14
Severe Weather: Tornadoes
Cristina Palowsky
5.0
(681)
per class
Next session at 3 PM on Wed 3/26
Group Class
3 wks, 1/wk, 40 min
8-12
Weather Art Project
Samara Brown
4.6
(14)
per class
Next session at 4 PM on Wednesday
Group Class
1/wk, 30 min
5-7
Weather Forecasting for Pilots
Michael P. Bielas
4.9
(1,057)
per class
Next session at 9 PM today
Group Class
1/wk, 55 min
11-16
Introduction to Weather
Debbie Bond
per class
Next session at 6 PM on Wed 3/5
Group Class
8 wks, 1/wk, 2.50 hr
12-15
Weather Forecasting With a Focus on Aviation Meteorology
Michael P. Bielas
4.9
(1,057)
per class
Next session at 10 PM on Tuesday
Group Class
1/wk, 55 min
11-16
Intro to Meteorology and Weather Forecasting Tools
Michael P. Bielas
4.9
(1,057)
per class
Next session at 6 PM on Wednesday
Group Class
1/wk, 55 min
11-16
Battling the Elements: The Impact of Weather and Terrain in Warfare
Keith (M.A. Military History)
5.0
(368)
per class
Group Class
24 wks, 1/wk, 1 hr
13-18
Mother Natures Superpowers: Weather and Natural Disasters
Amber Bottensek, B. ED.
5.0
(602)
per class
Next session at 4:30 PM today
Group Class
1/wk, 30 min
5-9
Weather Wonders: The Art and Science of Clouds
Peyton Stevenson
per class
Next session at 7 PM on Sunday
Group Class
2 wks, 1/wk, 1 hr
10-14
U.S. Meteorologist Kids: Share and Discuss the Weather!
Mr. David
5.0
(488)
per month
Chat Group
Unlimited Access
8-13
More to explore
Fall Learning Mandarin
Kangaroo
Draw Dragons
Explorer
Oil And Acrylic
Writing Conclusions
War World Ll
Sentence Grammar Spelling
Become A Chess Pro
Tutoring Comprehension
Halloween Draw
Explanatory Essay
Private Bass
Beginning Group Guitar
Boy Arts And Crafts
Cat Pod
Winter Science
Monsters And Myths
Growing Young Readers With Dragon Masters
Lets Learn French 2