Product Description

The Roman army was one of the most successful fighting forces in history. Its highly advanced organization and tactics were unequaled until the modern era, and monuments to its perseverance and engineering skill are still visible today throughout Europe and the Mediterranean world.

This book is the first to examine in detail not just the early imperial army, but also the citizens' militia of the republic and the army of the later empire. Every aspect of the Roman army, from the daily lives of individual soldiers to the outcome of major campaigns, is explored:

• The Republican Army considers the earliest armies, the creation of the Roman navy, and the militia army that conquered the Mediterranean.
• The Professional Army describes reforms under Marius and his successors and the creation of the new legionary structure.
• The Life of a Roman Soldier looks in detail at all aspects, from recruitment and daily routine to equipment and off-duty life.
• The Army at War reveals how the army operated, from grand tactics to hand-to-hand combat and siege warfare.
• The Army of Late Antiquity examines the reorganization after the defeats of the third century and the rise in the use of cavalry.

Discussions of key Roman battles and brief biographies of the great commanders bring the army's campaigns and personalities to life, while hundreds of photographs, diagrams, and specially commissioned battle plans illustrate the many aspects of the Roman army over several centuries. 245 illustrations, 107 in color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #70344 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-27
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

About the Author
Adrian Goldsworthy studied at Oxford University. His publications include The Roman Army at War: 100 BC-AD 200.

Customer Reviews

Comparatively slender volume, but packed with useful information
The author is an expert in Roman military matters with several previous works to his credit, and even though he's an academic, his style is exceptionally readable without being oversimplified or talking down to the reader. He begins with the origins of the citizen army under the early Republic, made up of soldiers who volunteered as a matter of patriotism. This worked fine for several centuries, when Rome's sphere of influence was still relatively small and campaigns were limited in time. As conquests expanded, though, and continuous occupation became necessary, a full-time professional army became necessary, made up of career soldiers receiving pay. The ethnic make-up of the army also shifted, with a large percentage of non-Italians being accepted -- though they were still citizens, as the law required -- and with a much greater proportion of non-citizen auxiliaries added to the TO. Other sections of the book cover the many aspects of a soldier's life, both on garrison duty (which might be most of the time) and at war. Great attention is given to weapons and equipment, and the author is careful to note the many competing theories based on scarce evidence. The nearly 250 illustrations even include photos of modern reenactors, whose experiments and field trials have answered many scholarly questions. A lovely book, well written and edited, and very useful as a bridge between casual interest and academic study.

The complete roman army
I thought this book is very good for beginners who are interested in roman army and equipment. it is nicely divided into 4 parts, and the terminology is clearly explained with photos or illustrations. There are also small surprises where specific campaigns are discussed in a 2 page summary. i will definitely recommend this book for beginners

The Best Roman Military I have ever seen.
Anyone interested in Roman History should include this in their library.
Excellent detailed pictures and written history.