[Thunderhawk]

This might turn into a philosophy question in the history forum..

How many countries have possessed overwhelming military might, have had the logistics/deployment ability to go on the offensive, and not used it for 1) war 2) conquest.


I think of Phillip II & Alexander of Macedonia, Qin Shi Huang, Napoleon, the Mongolian Khans.. their empires ended (usurped/absorbed/splintered) when their ability to wage war ended. The reasons varied, but they all seem to have been problems of the state -logistics, geographic barriers, tapped out manpower, morale- not a reduction/consumption of their military might by other states.

The only example that quickly comes to mind is America after WW2.. though that might have been constrainted by the Red Army.
Any one know of other, better examples?

[Doug64]

Switzerland. They had a brief imperialist phase after it became clear that no one in Europe could beat their pikes, but they walked away before ambition and quarrels over spoils could tear the cantons apart.