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Title: Roman Warfare by Adrian Goldsworthy, John Keegan ISBN: 0-304-35265-9 Publisher: Cassell Academic Pub. Date: April, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.56 (9 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent overview of Roman Military History
Comment: This is a small book that takes on a large task and does it very well. It shows the origination of the Roman Military System, the development to its peak in the late republic- early empire period, and the decline of the Roman military along with the Empire.
Key battles are used for illustrative purposes, and give an excellent picture of the effectiveness of the manipular system, the use of cavalry and the importance of reserves.
Where this book is a bit light is that it does not give a detailed description of the gear of a legionnaire, rank uniforms etc. Also, the legion structure could be laid out more clearly in the appendices.
Where the book excels is in explaining the drift from a republican citizen army to a professional army, and from a Latin army to one made up of conquered peoples. It also explains the transition from armies led by Consuls and Governors to legions led by Imperial Legates, and ultimately by professional soldiers from non-Senatorial classes. All of this is fundamental to the shift from a Republic to an Empire, and is key to any study of the history of Rome.
This makes it a book valuable to students of Roman politics who have little or no interest in the Military History. Goldsworthy establishes that regardless of whether the political events changed the army or vice versa, a proper study of Rome cannot ignore impact of the Military Arm in dictating the Path of Romes affairs.
Rating: 5
Summary: Sweet Action!!!
Comment: I recently read this book and discovered it was totally sweet. The elegant prose made it hard to put down and the pictures and illustrations were pretty darn awesome as well. I found his ideas about manipular tactics different from ones I've read about before(he states that the Roman lines didn't fill in gaps before charging the enemy as other modern historians have argued), but like the rest of his ideas presented he argues his view rather convincingly. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wishes to taste the sweet nectar of Roman military history.
Rating: 4
Summary: Clear, informative.
Comment: This book follows the evolution of warfare and military life in Rome from the days before its founding to its eventual collapse. Other books, I've found, focus on Rome's battles and the tactics of her individual commanders, but never giving insight as to how the Roman military machine actually ran or the life of the individual soldier. Rather than just giving the tactics of Roman commanders (though these are certainly included), Mr. Goldsworthy focuses on the organization, training, and mentality that bred such men, and how this changed with the political climate.
There can be no doubt that the Roman legions were the most dedicated, disciplined, and technically proficient force that existed in ancient times. These levels of conditioning and organization among military units have not reemerged until recently, after the world had twice gone to war.
There is one error that should be mentioned. In Rome's early days, it was organized military units and not armed citizens that were not allowed within the city walls. This policy continued until it was reversed by Ceasar's treason. As the author is British, I can forgive this misunderstanding.
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Title: The Wars of the Ancient Greeks by Victor Davis Hanson ISBN: 0304359823 Publisher: Cassell Academic Pub. Date: May, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Warfare in the Seventeenth Century by John Childs ISBN: 0304363731 Publisher: Cassell Academic Pub. Date: 28 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Roman Imperial Army: Of the First and Second Centuries A.D. by Graham Webster, Hugh Elton ISBN: 0806130008 Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd) Pub. Date: March, 1998 List Price(USD): $18.51 |
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Title: The Renaissance at War by Thomas Arnold ISBN: 0304363537 Publisher: Cassell Academic Pub. Date: 28 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Complete Roman Army by Adrian Goldsworthy ISBN: 0500051240 Publisher: Thames & Hudson Pub. Date: 27 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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