Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare

Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare

From Homer to Caesar and Procopius, for the great writers of antiquity warfare was the single biggest preoccupation. Later historians portrayed the ancient world as being almost continuously in a state of war – but what are the facts behind the legends passed down through the centuries? These two superb volumes from Cambridge University Press expand our understanding of ancient warfare as never before. Comprehensive, fascinating and accessible, they present developments in troop–types, equipment, strategy and tactics as the driving forces behind the unstoppable armies of antiquity. Moving away from the traditional, chronological accounts of important battles and campaigns, these two volumes explore the importance of war to the political, economic and social developments of Ancient Greece and Rome. Each chapter, written by a specialist in the field, covers a key theme – international relations, the impact of warfare on the state, military forces, war and societies – providing scholarly insights and the most up–to–date research findings all illustrated with maps, diagrams and black and white images.

Volume I – Greece, the Hellenistic World and the Rise of Rome

The glorification of warfare in ancient literature is easy enough to see. This fascinating volume unpicks the ancient, often simplistic stories of heroism and ­bloodshed to provide a surprisingly in–depth insight into some of history’s most famous battles. How did Alexander create the supply lines required to feed his all–conquering army? In what way did innovations like the long shield, the two–handed sword or even the use of elephants against cavalry shift the balance of power?

Volume II – Rome from the Late Republic to the Late Empire

From the late Republic to the age of Constantine and Justinian, the Roman army was a standing professional force, one of the finest in history. And yet by the 5th century, the western Empire had fallen. Exploring the reasons behind both its pre–eminence and sudden decline, a series of illuminating studies bring us closer to the actual experiences of the troops, from the traditional infantry to the cavalry–archers developed to respond to ‘barbarian’ tactics.