Greek and Roman Military Writers: Selected Readings (Routledge Classical Translations)

I've found this book very useful as a quick reference guide to Roman Military theory and sources. Sort of like a Roman Sun-Tzu. The layout makes it easy to narrow down and select from the applicable writings. The only reason it's not a five-star is that the translations chosen on artillery are a bit simplistic and not really the best and most accurate. I can't speak with much authority about other topics, but in this narrow instance I'd prefer to see more detail. I suppose it is not the author's intent to break new ground, getting readers started in the right direction is a worthy effort.

How do you build a catapult?
How do you organize an ambush?
Can you teach yourself how to command an army?

War was a key part of the life and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. It influenced every level of existence, from the men fighting hand to hand to defend their communities, to the significance economic impact of organising a large fighting force. The ancient writers who tell us about technical aspects of military practice and the management of armies can shed much light on the murky area of the conduct of war, and convey the interest that the subject inspired in the ancient world.

Brian Campbell has selected and translated a wide range of pieces from the ancient military writers. They cover a fascinating range of topics - battle formations and manoeuvres, different types of troops, the art of generalship, methods for conducting and resisting a siege, the construction of artillery and fortifications, and every kind of ploy and trick used by generals to defeat their opponents are all included.

Some works are highly technical, while others make up a survey of this history of warfare and the reasons why past generals had been victorious or come to grief. The book also includes extracts from other historians who have interesting comments on warfare and society. Each piece is annotated with further explanation and context, making this an essential resource for everyone studying the army and warfare in the classical age.

"For this volume Brian Campbell has selected and translated more than 250 key pieces from the ancient military writers. They cover a range of topics - battle formations and manoeuvres, different types of troops, the art of generalship, methods for conducting and resisting a siege, the construction of artillery and fortifications, and every kind of ploy and trick used by generals to defeat their opponents." "Some works are highly technical, while others survey the history of warfare and the reasons why past generals had been victorious or came to grief. The book also includes extracts from other ancient historians who comment on warfare and society. Each piece is annotated with further explanation, making this an essential resource for everyone studying the army and warfare in the classical age."--BOOK JACKET Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of readings......Page 9 List of figures......Page 20 Preface and acknowledgements......Page 22 Abbreviations and notes......Page 24 Introduction: warfare in the Greek and Roman world......Page 26 Organization, training, and discipline......Page 46 The general's role......Page 78 Battle: military formations, tactics, and stratagems......Page 113 Attacking and defending cities......Page 170 Military engineering: bridges, camps, fortifications, siege engines, and siege works......Page 204 Select bibliography......Page 237 Index of translated passages......Page 243 Index of names and subjects......Page 252 Brian Campbell has selected and translated a wide range of pieces from the ancient military writers who tell us about the technical aspects of military practice and the management of armies. The pieces cover a fascinating range of topics - battle formations and manoeuvres, different types of troops, the art of generalship, methods for conducting and resisting a siege, the construction of artillery and fortifications, and every kind of ploy used by generals to defeat their opponents. Each piece is annotated with further explanation and context, making this an essential resource for everyone studying the army and warfare in the classical age. Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of readings 9 List of figures 20 Preface and acknowledgements 22 Abbreviations and notes 24 Introduction: warfare in the Greek and Roman world 26 Organization, training, and discipline 46 The general's role 78 Battle: military formations, tactics, and stratagems 113 Attacking and defending cities 170 Military engineering: bridges, camps, fortifications, siege engines, and siege works 204 Select bibliography 237 Index of translated passages 243 Index of names and subjects 252 Humanities "Philosophy in Late Antiquity provides an essential new introduction to the key ideas of the Neoplatonists which affects approaches to Plato as late as the nineteenth century. Andrew Smith also shows how they influenced Christian thought. His approach not only allows us to appreciate these philosophical ideas in their own right. It also gives us significant insights into the mentality of the age which produced them."--Jacket In early Greece around 1200 BC battles were probably decided by a relatively small number of aristocratic warriors using heavy thrusting spears.