The Profession of Arms

What is the military profession? How did it come into being and how has it developed? What is the professional man-at-arms, a man dedicated to fighting or a guardian of peace? What role does he play in a world where superpowers confront each other with weapons of mass destruction. What role ought he to play? Indeed, is he necessary at all? The Profession of Arms ranges across 4000 years of military history to uncover the forces that have shaped the professional man-at-arms of today and to find there lessons of relevance to today - and tomorrow...