Blood and Treasure by Duncan Weldon: Empire, ­conquests and a fun dive into the economics of war

From Genghis Khan giving us a first taste of globalisation to the consequences of over-estimating Russian power in the war in Ukraine, Duncan Weldon gives us an original and sharp take on the forces that have shaped our world

Concept of total war: A US and French soldier before heading into battle in 1918. Photo: Getty

From early empires to modern superpowers, the pursuit of wealth and the waging of war have rarely been separate endeavours. Battles have been fought not only over territories and beliefs, but also over resources and the hope of prosperity.

Economic ambition has driven conquest just as often as conquests have reshaped economies. It is this complex entanglement of war and money that is studied deeply by Duncan Weldon in Blood and Treasure: The Economics of Conflict from the Vikings to Ukraine.

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