Product Description

Chariots, the first mobile fighting vehicle, seem to have originated in Mesopotamia in the third millennium BC. The highly mobile two-wheeled war chariot, carrying a driver and an archer armed with a short composite bow, revolutionized military tactics after 1700 BC. This expensive weapon spread throughout the Middle East and is thought to have reached Egypt with the conquering Hyksos. It spread into Asia Minor, Greece, and was known in Northern Europe by 1500 BC. This book covers the evolution of the war chariot throughout the Bronze Age, detailing its design, development and combat history â€" in particular its fundamental involvement at the battle of Qadesh.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #743866 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-31
• Released on: 2006-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

From the Publisher
The unrivalled illustrated reference on fighting vehicles, transport and artillery through the ages. Each volume is illustrated throughout, making these books uniquely accessible to history enthusiasts of all ages.

About the Author
Dr Nic Fields started his career as a biochemist before joining the Royal Marines for seven years. Having left the Navy, he went back to University and completed a BA and PhD in Ancient History at the University of Newcastle. He was Assistant Director at the British School of Archaeology, Athens, and is now a lecturer in Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Customer Reviews

Good specialized coverage, but not much new
Author Nic Fields has covered the subject reasonably well and provides comfortable reading. There is discussion of the domestication and breed development of the horse, speeds of yoked horses, as well as the composite bow. The author has provided a good bibliography.

Brian Delf's plates are good, but not exceptional. The poses are well chosen and the proportions are excellent (compared to McBride's sometimes stocky figures.) However, the colors are not as lifelike as McBride's work and consequently the plates are not as crisp. Plates include Sumerian battlewagons, Egyptian chariots, Hittite chariots, and both box and rail types of Mycenaean chariots. The discussion of the progression of Mycenaean and Hittite chariots definitely adds value to this inexpensive work.

As with most Osprey works there are a few things that might have been covered more fully. One thing that could have been added is some sort of depiction of Mitanni or Canaanite chariotry of the period. Mitanni was the initial master of Bronze Age two-wheel chariotry and training.

While I recommend this book to those interested specifically in Bronze Age chariots, I should also note that much of the same information is available in several other Osprey works, though not all in the same place or to the same depth. For example, "The Mycenaeans" covers their chariotry well; while "New Kingdom Egypt" discusses Egyptian, Hittite, and Mitannian chariotry, and "Ancient Armies of the Middle East" has Egyptian chariots and Sumerian battlewagons. I guess the main complaint about the work is that I've read too many studies of the battle of Quadesh already, so I was hoping for even broader coverage of chariots in this.

Bronze Age War Chariots
The first Osprey title to examine exclusively chariots and their horses and passengers, this book focuses mostly on the three best-known chariot fighting Bronze Age civilizations-Ancient Egypt, the Hittites, and the Mycenaeans, though mention is also made of those of the Syrians and the Celts. The book examines the construction of the chariots, as well as the domestication of the horses and the training and tactics of man and beast alike. The text is accompanied by a worthy set of plates and a detailed commentary.

Tanks of the ancient world
I agree with the other reviewers. It does deal only with a few different chariots, I would have preferred some different places. What we do know of these chariots is that their introduction was shattering so I would have liked much more detailed tactical studies of how they were used. We also know the the expense of keeping these chariots on society was huge. Yet in this book we have little of this too.

I can say the pictures and descriptions are adequate. All interesting but there is nothing here that is original or new.