The Business of War

The Business of War examines military entrepreneurship and private enterprise in European warfare from 1300 to 1800. This scholarly work challenges assumptions about state control and the development of military operations during this period. David Parrott analyzes primary sources across multiple European regions to demonstrate the role of private contractors in providing armies, supplies, weapons and ships. The narrative tracks how merchant-contractors, arms dealers, and military entrepreneurs shaped the evolution of warfare across five centuries. The text details specific historical examples from the Hundred Years' War through the end of the eighteenth century. Military technologies, economic systems, and political relationships receive analysis through the lens of private enterprise and market forces. This reframing of military history reveals how commerce and entrepreneurship influenced the conduct of war as much as state power. The work contributes to broader questions about the relationship between public authority and private interests in European history.

Readers appreciate Parrott's detailed research and challenge to conventional narratives about early modern military contractors and private enterprise in warfare. Many note his effective use of primary sources and case studies from across Europe. Specific praise focuses on his analysis of military entrepreneurs and explanation of complex financial arrangements between states and private contractors. A reader on Amazon highlighted the "fresh perspective on how early modern warfare actually functioned." Main criticisms include dense academic writing and occasional repetition. Some readers found the level of detail overwhelming. One Goodreads reviewer noted it "requires significant background knowledge of the period." Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (6 ratings) The book receives stronger ratings from academic readers and military historians compared to general readers. Professional journal reviews have been positive, with particular emphasis on its contribution to understanding military-private sector relationships.

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🔹 Despite being published in 2012, The Business of War challenges long-held beliefs about military entrepreneurship that had dominated historical understanding since the 1800s. 🔹 The book examines the period 1560-1650, when private military contractors and mercenaries were responsible for approximately 90% of Europe's military operations. 🔹 David Parrott is a Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at New College, Oxford, specializing in early modern European history, particularly French and Italian military developments. 🔹 The research reveals that many famous military commanders of the period, including Wallenstein during the Thirty Years' War, operated as private military entrepreneurs rather than traditional state servants. 🔹 The book demonstrates how early modern European states actually preferred to outsource their military operations, finding it more efficient and cost-effective than maintaining standing armies.