This definitive study presents a complete account of the Dutch Republic's naval fleet during its golden age as a world power.The Netherlands was by far the most important maritime power of the seventeenth century. It dominated seaborne trade with the largest merchant fleet in the world. Born out of an 80-year struggle against Spain for independence, the Dutch republic relied on naval power to protect its freedom, promote its trade and defend its overseas colonies. ...

Hands-on guidance to creating great test-driven development practiceTest-driven development (TDD) practice helps developers recognize a well-designed application, and encourages writing a test before writing the functionality that needs to be implemented. This hands-on guide provides invaluable insight for creating successful test-driven development processes. With source code and examples featured in both C# and .NET, the book walks you through the TDD methodology...

**From an award-winning historian of ancient Rome, the definitive history of Hadrian’s Wall.“Hadrian’s Wall is a short and sparkling introduction to the great wall of the Roman Empire, written by a master historian. Adrian Goldsworthy cuts through the myth without losing the magic.” ―Barry Strauss, author of The Trojan War**Stretching eighty miles from coast to coast across northern England, Hadrian’s Wall is the world’s largest known Roman artifact. Commo...

In the years between 31 BC and AD 500 the Romans carved out a mighty empire stretching from Britain to the deserts of North Africa.The men who spearheaded this expansion were the centurions, the tough, professional warriors who led from the front, exerted savage discipline and provided a role model for the legionaries under their command. This book, the second volume of a two-part study, reveals the appearance, weaponry, role and impact of these legendary soldiers ...

The year AD 122 was the first time a Roman Emperor had set foot in the Province of Britannia since the invasion in AD 43.No doubt he had read many reports concerning the damage caused by marauding tribesmen crossing from what is now Scotland into the Province. Hadrian, therefore, decided - in the words of his biographer - 'to build a wall to separate the Romans from the Barbarians'.This engaging work from author Michael Simkins explores in depth the organis...

"An excellent piece of work, not just as an account of the Four Days' Battle itself but also for its account of the entire Second Anglo-Dutch War" (HistoryOfWar.org).On June 1, 1666, a large but outnumbered English fleet engaged the Dutch off the mouth of the Thames in a colossal battle that was to involve nearly 200 ships and last four days. False intelligence had led the English to divide their fleet to meet a phantom threat from France, and although the errant s...

Three times during the 17th century, England and Holland went to war as part of an ongoing struggle for economic and naval supremacy.Primarily fought in the cold waters of the North Sea and the English Channel, the wars proved revolutionary in their impact upon warship design, armament, and naval tactics. During this time, the warship evolved into the true ship-of-the-line that would dominate naval warfare until the advent of steam power.This book traces th...

With the development in the 13th century of co-operative tactics using crossbowmen and heavy spearmen, the charge by Muslim horse-archers, and then by European armoured knights, could be defied.Infantry were far cheaper and easier to train than knights, and potentially there were far more of them. Tactics emerged by which more numerous and more varied infantry played an increasing part in battles.This book traces these and other examples of this 'jerky' and...

Stretching 73 miles from coast to coast and reaching a height of about 13 feet, Hadrian's Wall should have been counted as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Today, a World Heritage site, it stands as the most imposing monument north of the Alps and attracts millions of visitors a year. Yet, despite all the excavation and research that has been carried out, this is the first detailed guide to be written for many years. Having first dealt with the practical questions of transpor...

At the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1899, a large number of Hollanders and Dutch expatriates joined the Boers, their reasons ranging from loyalty to their common ancestry to strong anti-British sentiments and a search for adventure. Brothers in Arms documents the trials and tribulations of these volunteers – most of them unaccustomed to the harsh landscape and climate of South Africa. Quotations and personal anecdotes from their diaries and memoirs vividly bring to life their h...

An illustrated history of the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller, repeatedly besieged during the Crusades.First besieged in 305 BC, the island of Rhodes became part of the Roman Empire and was later fortified in the Byzantine style. Due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean, Rhodes was also attacked and besieged for over a century by Islamic forces.This book details the development of these fascinating fortifications, as well as the sieges tha...

"A good account of one of the most decisive battles of the ancient world. Who knows how world history would have proceeded had Caesar been defeated?" ( New York Journal of Books).Julius Caesar's campaign of 52 BC frequently hung in the balance. Celtic chieftain Vercingetorix was a far more formidable opponent than any he'd encountered in Gaul. The Romans were caught totally off-guard, and it seemed all too likely that their grip on Gaul, which Caesar had im...