The history of warfare is the history of war and its evolution and development over time. The study of the history of war is known as military history.

Periodization

One method of dividing such as massive topic is by cutting it into periods of time. While useful this method tends to be inaccurate and differences in geography mean there is little uniformity. What might be described as ancient warfare is still practiced in a number of parts of the world. Other eras that are distinct in European history, such as the era of Medieval warfare, may have little relevance in East Asia.

• Prehistoric warfare, warfare before the development of centralized states.
• Ancient warfare, primarily infantry warfare in the era before the stirrup.
• Medieval warfare, cavalry predominates in the period between the introduction of the stirrup but is displaced by the development of gunpowder.
• Early modern warfare, artillery, infantry, and cavalry work in unison.
• Modern warfare, mechanization and the machine gun greatly change the face of warfare.

By theater

War can also be divided based on where it is being fought.

• Land warfare , fighting on land
• Naval warfare, fighting on the sea
• Aerial warfare, fighting in the air
• Space warfare, fighting beyond the atmosphere
• Winter warfare, fighting during the winter
• Desert warfare, fighting in deserts
• Amphibious warfare, fighting from sea onto land

By weapon

The history of war can also be divided by the type of weapon used.

• Cavalry warfare
• Infantry warfare
• Submarine warfare
• Ski warfare
• Mechanized warfare
• Nuclear warfare
• Chemical warfare
• Biological warfare
• Radiological warfare

By tactics

• Guerilla warfare
• Asymmetric warfare
• Siege warfare
• Trench warfare

By peoples

• Assyrian warfare
• Ancient Egyptian warfare
• Ancient Greek warfare
• Roman warfare
• Arab warfare
• Mongol warfare
• Crusader warfare
• Japanese warfare
• Chinese warfare
• Native American warfare
• Aztec warfare

By war

• List of wars
• List of civil wars
• List of battles
• List of invasions
• List of military operations