Entrepreneurship of, in, and through war: the West in the last millennium

This chapter examines the entrepreneur at war using case studies from the Western world over the last millennium. A typology of entrepreneurs during wartime, namely, entrepreneurs of war, entrepreneurs through wars, entrepreneurs in war, is described. Through historical case studies spanning from the high middles ages (1000-1300) through to the cold war (1945-91) an account is provided of how entrepreneurs of war have always been necessary. The chapter then discusses important shifts that have taken place in the different types of entrepreneurs. It outlines, for example, how as armies grew in size and weapons increased in complexity that entrepreneurs of war became more significant while entrepreneurs through war became more important as governments came to rely on large armies with large reserves, that needed a steady flow of supplies, mostly just in wartime.