The Meuse Region, 1250-1850
A multi-faceted and original study of the complex interactions between armies and their ecosystems, taking a long view of current debates about the environmental impact of the military.

Using the ecosystem concept as his starting point, the author examines the complex relationship between premodern armed forces and their environment at three levels: landscapes, living beings, and diseases. The study focuses on Europe’s Meuse Region, well-known among historians of war as a battleground between France and Germany. By analyzing soldiers’ long-term interactions with nature, this book engages with current debates about the ecological impact of the military, and provides new impetus for contemporary armed forces to make greater effort to reduce their environmental footprint.

This book is available as Open Access.