This book broke its analysis down into a of a number of convenient and accessible sections which ranged from the life of a roman soldier to the roman army at war. Choose a page number to see the recommended websites and find downloadable pictures. In popular culture these soldiers are often portrayed in a generic fashion, but continuing research indicates significant variations in roman armour and equipment not only between different legions and the provinciallyraised auxiliary. In this dazzling portrait of romes first imperial dynasty, tom holland traces the astonishing centurylong story of the rise and fall of the julioclaudiansaugustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, and nero. Author was a recipient of the centenary of federation medal for services to australia. Indeed, this book is easily the best onevolume work available on the roman army today. Roman soldiers used rigorous formations and clever tactics to defeat their opponents on the battlefield. Peter connolly is a skilled illustrator who takes great delight in bringing back to life archaeological discoveries. If you or someone you love has an interest in rome, ancient history, or military history, this would make an excellent gift come christmas. It is thus a term that may span approximately 2,206 years 753 bc1453 ad, during.
Catilines war, the jugurthine war, histories by sallust, the history of rome, books 15. The roman army was one of the most successful fighting forces in history. The coverage spans from the first citizen militias to the army of late antiquity. Gary brueggemans the roman army karwansaray publishers blog. Try peter connollys greece and rome at war one of the best books ever written on ancient warfare if you want a good short colourful introduction to the roman military you could look no further than osprey publishings many books on the subject on ospreys ancient world book list. As with all books in the osprey series, much of this ones 92 pages offer. Southern here illuminates the roman armys history, culture, and organization, providing fascinating details on topics such as military music. Jones later roman empire 1964, which contains the fundamental study of the late roman army, calculated a similar total of 600,000 exc. The complete roman army by adrian goldsworthy, paperback. Deblois, lukas, the roman army and politics in the first century b. A social and institutional history 9780195328783 by southern, pat and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Warfare and food supply in roman republican wars 26430 bc 1998 and the grain market in the roman empire 2005, and editor of the roman army and the economy 2002.
This was a really informative and concise overview of how the roman army functioned. The roman army is one of the most fascinating elements of ancient history. Topics covered include the roman legions, auxiliary, the legionary and his equipment, arms and armour, everyday life in the camps, and methods of attack. This authoritative short volume introduces readers to the roman army, its structure, tactics, duties and development. The first phase of this army, in its manipular structure 290ca. Non fiction guide to the roman army for primary school readers. The roman army was the backbone of the roman empire and one of the most successful armies in world history. This is a really engaging nonfiction text about the. After the defeat of antony and cleopatra in 30 bc augustus turned the troops of the republic into the worlds first major standing army, recruiting soldiers from all over the roman world. This book goes beyond the stereotypes found in popular culture to. This book goes beyond the stereotypes found in popular culture to examine the roman army from the first armed citizens of the early republic through the glorious heights of the imperial legions to the shameful defeats inflicted upon the late roman. Its organization and tactics were highly advanced and were unequaled until the. The greatest war machine of the ancient world general military mcnab, chris on. Roman army usborne discovery brocklehurst, ruth on.
Romes military adapted and evolved over the centuries in order to overcome the new threats it faced as its territories expanded. Written by a leading authority on roman military history, this fascinating volume spans over a thousand years as it offers a memorable picture of one of the worlds most noted fighting forces, paying special attention to the life of the common soldier. It is his emphasis on the material culture of the time which seperates this book from other roman history books. The book does cover the earlier republican army, as well as the later armies 3rd and 4th century ad, but in less detail about a chapter each, compared to the 8 on the principate army. The roman army was one of the most successful fighting forc. In order to guard such a large empire, the army took advantage of well. The imperial roman army was the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the roman empire from about 30 bc to 476 ad, the final period in the long history of the roman army. To date he has published over 25 books, including twentieth century small arms 2001, gunfighters the outlaws and their. Adrian goldworthys the complete roman army gives a pretty complete coverage of the roman legions during their heydays during the late republican and early imperial periods. Dixon and the roman empire from severus to constantine.
The greek biographer plutarch credits the fabled founder of rome, romulus, with creating the legionary forces as they would be known in the republic and imperial periods, yet the roman historian livy says that the early roman army fought more along the lines of greek hoplites in a phalanx, most likely as a form of civil militia, with recruitment dependant on a citizens social standing. The complete roman army by adrian goldsworthy, 9780500288993, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Nonetheless, a nicely written volume that provides a sense of the roman army as it evolved and came to its end. It was welltrained, wellequipped, and wellorganized. Drawing on archaeology, ancient art, and original documentary sources, this book presents the most convincing history ever published of the roman army. The author is not currently a professional historian nor an academic. The roman legions were the most highly organized troops of the ancient world, but the process of turning the legions into the professional force that built an empire, was no small feat. From britain to syria, and from the rhine and danube to north africa, there is abundant evidence of the activities of its legionaries and auxiliary soldiers. This book follows the roman army from the first armed citizens of the early republic through the glorious heights of the imperial legions to the shameful defeats. It reflects on the gradual evolution of the roman army as it developed from a semiprofessional civilian army of the senate to a permanent professional forces under the. This period is sometimes split into the principate 30 bc 284 ad and dominate 285476 periods under augustus ruled 30 bc 14 ad, the army consisted of legions, eventually auxilia and also numeri. The roman army and politics in the first century before christ amsterdam 1987. It disappeared for a while, then reappeared in a revised version on the domain. An extensive account of the roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later roman empire examines the army as a military machine its recruitment, training, organization, tactics and weaponry.
As the title suggests, the book covers everything from the evolution of the roman army to its structure and the daily life of its soldiers. Here you can easily find all the army books in one place, as well as information on the latest updates and new releases. This is a lot of ground to cover and peter connolly is more than up to the task. Adrian goldsworthy is an english historian whose publications include the roman army at war. Army and allies by emilio gabba is also an old book but a good point to look for information on the demographics.
This book is an excellent overview of the roman army, particularly the principate professional army of around 0 ad 200 ad. This book goes beyond the stereotypes found in popular culture to examine the roman army from the first armed citizens of. The image of the roman legionary is as familiar today as it was to the citizens and enemies of the vast roman empire two thousand years ago. This companion provides an extensive account of the roman army, exploring its role in roman politics and society as well as the reasons for its effectiveness as a fighting force. Citations and bibliography for roman military information on victori the roman military. Adrian goldsworthy explores the influence to the roman armys organization on its behaviour during a. Roman weapons legionaries carried the same weapons, so they could fight together in formation. Focusing on the organisational changes in the roman army during the civil wars, nic fields examines the role played by caius marius and his farreaching reforms. Paul erdkamp is research fellow in ancient history at leiden university.
Usborne quicklinks subject areas history books romans discovery. The complete roman army consists of five major sections. The greatest war machine of the ancient world general military. The text in this collection is accompanied by bright illustrations and is excellent for linking storytelling and literacy with your history topic. The core of the campaign history of the roman military is an aggregate of different accounts of the roman militarys land battles, from its initial defense against and subsequent conquest of the citys hilltop neighbors on the italian peninsula, to the ultimate struggle of the western roman empire for its existence against invading huns. Thanks to their famous discipline, they could take up and hold positions even in the heat of battle. What is considered to be the best book on roman warfare. Even with 265 pages, that leaves rather little time for great detail on any stage in the evolution of the roman military. An exploration of the roman army for the nonacademic reader, this work covers such topics as armour and weapons, camping and marching. Many years ago by internet standards gary brueggeman started a website on the roman army, full of tactical and operational analyses illuminated by his own drawings. The first book to examine in detail not just the early imperial roman army, but the citizens militia of the republic and the army of the later empire the roman. At its height the roman empire stretched across europe, north africa and the middle east, maintained by an army of modest size but great diversity. The roman army is a must purchase for any child fascinated by the roman army.
The image of the roman legionary is as familiar today as it was to the. It was the military of ancient rome which allowed it to rise above all others and dominate the mediterranean basin for more than a millennium. Roman army units in the western provinces 1 osprey. The first book to examine in detail not just the early imperial roman army, but the citizens militia of the republic and the army of the later. The roman army follows the development of romes legions starting with conflict with the macedonians 168 bc moves to caesars conquest of gaul 52bc and finishes during the year of the four emperors 68 ad. Osprey have books on every aspect of the roman military, from auxiliary forts, to late roman cavalrymen, to. The roman army of the midrepublic also known as the manipular roman army or the polybian army, refers to the armed forces deployed by the midroman republic, from the end of the samnite wars 290 bc to the end of the social war 88 bc. Whats the best book about the evolution of the roman army. This detailed examination of the way in which the roman army operated during a war and how it fought a battle breaks away from existing studies, which mostly concentrate on the army in peacetime, and attempts to understand the army as an institution whose ultimate purpose was to wage war. The orchard book of roman myths contains a selection of fifteen stories from roman mythology retold for younger readers. Elton, hugh, frontiers of the roman empire bloomington. Edward luttwaks the grand strategy of the roman empire isbn 9780674035195 is a great read, though it takes a somewhat unorthodox approach. The roman army reigned supreme for over 1,000 years. The complete roman army by adrian goldsworthy goodreads.