Even as the last shots of World War II were being fired, new conflicts were springing up around the globe. The wars that followed 1945 ranged from minor insurgencies through to full-blown conventional conflicts, and they have changed the political and social map of the world while creating millions of casualties and refugees. The Modern Wars 1945–Present – volume seven in the Encyclopedia of Warfare Series – charts the wars and revolutions that have taken place across the globe since the end of World War II. This is a chronological guide to conflicts on every continent, including the Cuban Revolution, the Vietnam War, the various Iraq wars and the events of the Arab Spring and the current uprising in Syria. Covering the key military events from the past few decades and featuring specially-commissioned full colour maps illustrating the formations and strategies used, the narrative descriptions of the circumstances behind each battle build into a comprehensive guide to the conflicts of the modern world. The Encyclopedia of Warfare Series is an authoritative compendium of almost five millennia of conflict, from the ancient world to the Arab Spring. Written in a style accessible to both the student and the general enthusiast, it reflects the latest thinking among military historians.