Victor Davis Hanson is an American classicist, military historian, columnist, and commentator. He was born on September 5, 1953, and is known for his scholarly work on ancient warfare as well as his analysis of contemporary military and political affairs. Hanson is a professor emeritus of classics at California State University, Fresno, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He has written or edited numerous books on warfare and ancient history, including "The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece" and "Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of Western Power." Hanson's work often emphasizes the themes of military history, the influence of culture on military outcomes, and the role of agriculture and rural life in historical context. He is a prolific contributor to various media outlets and is known for his conservative political views.