What is the difference between total war and traditional war???

Answer 1

well i'm not 100% certain what you mean by traditional war, but i think that total war is defined as a war in which it is decided that the economic and social factors that are defined as necessary for keeping the army in the field are attacked along with the army itself.

this happened in the civil war when the north put the shenandoah valley to the torch, knowing that the army of northern virginia wouldn't be as able to make war without the provisions that they got from the shenandoah.

it was also the factor that led the allied air forces to attack the ruhr valley in germany during WWII - knowing that germany depended on the armaments that came from the factories in the ruhr.

this is what is total war.

i think what you are referring to as traditional war is that sort of final argument of kings that in pre WWI europe led some nations to believe that it was easier to solve problems on the field of war than it was to negotiate peace.

i hope this helps...