For as long as there has been war, people have been fascinated by the history of how those wars have been fought, why and by whom. The International Politics and Military History degree scheme provides an opportunity for an in-depth study of warfare as it has developed since the time of Napoleon, reflecting changes in society and technology. For example, how and why has the nature of war changed, from nations in arms through the age of total war to wars of choice? How has technology changed war, from steam through nuclear power to computers and nano-technology? Students taking this degree will also learn about how war has been studied and about the evolution of key ideas about the nature and conduct of war: the principles of war, the role of battle, the importance of leadership and the power of industry. The focus of Military History at Aberystwyth is on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and it is placed in the context of the international political world.