A very readable account of the protracted, and ultimately unsuccessful efforts of the Song, Xia, and Jin dynasties to defend China from the Mongols.
[Defending Heaven] will satisfy the more seasoned student of Chinese history.

New York Military Affairs Symposium

Defending Heaven is a very readable account of the protracted and ultimately unsuccessful efforts of the Song, Xia, and Jin dynasties to defend China from the Mongols, a conflict with some episodes so heroic Waterson, a specialist in Mongol history, suggests they stand in need of a Homer.

Recognizing that Westerners are most likely unfamiliar with the historical, cultural, social, and military background of these events, Waterson wisely prefaces the book with what would normally be appendices, such as a chronology, dynastic tables, and so on, to provide a firmer foundation for readers new to the subject. These are followed by his opening chapter, which provides an overview of the state of the several Chinese kingdoms on the eve of rise of the Mongol threat. Waterson then covers the various phases of the protracted Mongol conquest of China, and ends with a look at the Mongol dominion (the Yuan Dynasty) and its long-term influence on Chinese history.

Waterson’s treatment is clear, a considerable achievement considering the often very complex ways in which events unfolded. He links the events in China to contemporary developments in the rest of the world, sometimes in startling ways (e.g., the “movements” of the trebuchet). Waterson often explains events in China by comparing them with similar developments in other parts of the world, which is a considerable help for anyone who is a novice to Chinese history. And Waterson is not shy about criticizing Western perceptions of China (e.g., just how familiar were Chinese generals with Sun-Tzu?).

Defending Heaven is a good read for such novices, but also will satisfy the more seasoned student of Chinese history.

Strategy Page

Waterson does an excellent job of guiding us through this prolonged and complex period of warfare, focusing on the key personalities as well as the main campaigns and the differing military establishments. He avoids getting bogged down in detailed descriptions of many battles or sieges, although the six year long siege of the twin cities of Xiangyang and Fancheng get the prominence they deserve, as does the final naval battle that seals the fate of the main Song Dynasty. This allows the main narrative to flow better, and gives us a clearer picture of the overall sweep of events in this dramatic period.

History of War

Waterson’s Defending Heaven is an excellent contribution not only to the study of the Mongol Empire but also to military history. Generally speaking, the Song have been portrayed as being pathetically inept in warfare but Waterson’s nuanced narrative clearly demonstrates that although the Song could not defeat the Mongols in an open battle, they more than held their own in defensive capabilities. With five maps, thirty-three illustrations, a lengthy timeline and dynastic charts, Defending Heaven is an excellent resource . . . Anyone interested in medieval warfare will find Defending Heaven of interest.

Professor Timothy May, in De Re Militari

This book is about one of the most significant events of the last millennium, yet it is – to westerners – one of the least known. The events related in this book are key not only to an understanding of the past but to the future as well.

John Man

The study of the Mongol conquests of the 13th century and of the history of their empire has flourished greatly in recent years. Yet until now there has not been a book which relates what happened from the point of view of the invaded and conquered states of what is now China. This is what James Waterson, with the knowledge, lucidity and approachability we have come to expect of him, provides in Defending Heaven. It is a remarkable story, superbly well told.

David Morgan