Bryn Mawr Classical Review provides reviews of three books
dealing with ancient warfare.
The first book reviewed is Mercenaries in the Classical
World: To the Death of Alexander by Stephen English. The book’s focus is on Greek mercenaries but
suffice it to say the reviewer was not impressed by the volume. He points out several serious factual
mistakes and mis-readings of ancient sources by the author. In addition, the author appears to have
barely used non-English sources.
Moreover, the author does not really focus very much on its subject
except for random stories and such. The full review can be found here. I agree with the assessment of the reviewer
and would avoid this book. There are
many good books on the subject but this is not one.
The next review is on fortifications, Hendrik W. Dey’s The
Aurelian Wall and the Refashioning of Imperial Rome, A.D. 271-855. The wall was 19 kilometers and surrounded
Rome when built in the 3rd cenutry. It maintained its importance through
the early Middle Ages. The author
describes the building of the wall and the many restorations and expansions
done over the centuries. He also
discusses the cultural, political and spiritual importance of the wall to
Rome. The reviewer says that at times
the author stretches his theorizing a bit far but overall he provides very
interesting thoughts on the wall and its presence around Rome. The book is noted as being
good for graduate level readers and it is recommended as a very detailed look
at the Aurelian Wall. The full review
is here.
1756- Aurelian Walls by Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Finally we consider Brian Campbell and Lawrence A. Tritle
(ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Warfare in the Classical World. The book is a major work dealing with
tactics, weapons, soldiers, logistics and so on. It covers the period from the beginning of the classical period of Greece to the end of
the Roman principate. The book starts
with a general review of the subject and also addresses current methods of
studying this history and the evidence used.
Then the book addresses troops, equipment, organization, for these
periods and the effects of the military on society. The book continues with essays on injuries, medicine, Greek
mercenaries, navies and naval logistics.
Following this are discussions of horses, their equipment, upkeep and use on
the battlefield.
The book then turns to the enemies of the Greeks and Romans
and details on them. Following this are
detailed discussions on six battles and
campaigns chosen to illustrate overall concepts. Finally the book connects the legacy of ancient warfare to
today. The book has extensive notes and
bibliographies. The reviewer notes that
there is a lack of some non-English studies and certain details and findings
can be challenged but that overall the book is a very comprehensive, detailed
and important work for anyone studying ancient warfare in Greece and Rome. I
highly recommend it for anyone wanting a thorough read of the subject. The full review is here.
"The Sea! The Sea!" Heroic march of the Ten Thousand Greek mercenaries - From Life magazine, 1901 - by Bernard Granville Baker
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