The Art of War is a military tactical text that has survived for centuries. The author of the text, Sun Tzu, left the world knowledge to carry forward for generations. Art of War is a collection of Tzu's military strategies, various principles passed down from his ancestral clan, and Taoism for the world to study and understand (Galvin and Giles). The military strategist specializes in the ways “a small force can defeat a powerful enemy” (Galvin and Giles 15). These tactics have been demonstrated throughout history by various “underdogs”; during the Revolutionary War, World War I, and even today in the Global War on Terror (Galvin and Giles 21). This is why Tzu remains an important piece of literature that everyone can read. Tzu's principles on leadership; “the Commander”, military training and warfare tactics have been compared to the mujahideen and Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden (Bartley 238). Although Sun Tzu was a military strategist, he “emphasized the action of war as the last and final option” (Galvin and Giles 15). This, along with the importance of understanding the enemy and identifying the appropriate time to attack, are demonstrated today by the United States military. This attests that even as military advancements and leadership styles transform over time, Sun Tzu's philosophies remain. By understanding Sun Tzu's principles, you can better understand the methods currently used in a war affecting the world. The famous military leader known as Sun-Tzu was born Sun Wu into a noble clan in the state of Qi (Huang 15). . Wu's ancestors, however, resided in the Chen state until the murder of the Chen heir in 675 BC (Huang 16). After the prince fled to the state of Qi, members of the Chen clan followed him (Huan...... center of sheet ......m A. Graham, Donald Kagan, Steven Ozment and Frank M.Turner The Legacy of World Civilizations. Ninth ed. Vol. 1: To 1700. UpperSaddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.Morgan, Matthew J. “The Art of War in Operation Iraqi Freedom.” . 2005. Web. June 28, 2011. "The Art of War - History.com Articles, Videos, and Facts." History.com - History Made Every Day - American and World Web. topics/the-art-of-war.Tzu, Sun. The art of war, 1994. Stampa.Tzu, The art of war. Dallas Galvin, New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Stampa.Tzu, Sun Tzu: the new translation York: Quill, 1993. Print.