Makers of Ancient Strategy : From the Persian Wars to the Fall of Rome

In this prequel to the now-classic __Makers of Modern Strategy__, Victor Davis Hanson, a leading scholar of ancient military history, gathers prominent thinkers to explore key facets of warfare, strategy, and foreign policy in the Greco-Roman world. From the Persian Wars to the final defense of the Roman Empire, __Makers of Ancient Strategy__ demonstrates that the military thinking and policies of the ancient Greeks and Romans remain surprisingly relevant for understanding conflict in the modern world. The book reveals that much of the organized violence witnessed today--such as counterterrorism, urban fighting, insurgencies, preemptive war, and ethnic cleansing--has ample precedent in the classical era. The book examines the preemption and unilateralism used to instill democracy during Epaminondas's great invasion of the Peloponnesus in 369 BC, as well as the counterinsurgency and terrorism that characterized Rome's battles with insurgents such as Spartacus, Mithridates, and the Cilician pirates. The collection looks at the urban warfare that became increasingly common as more battles were fought within city walls, and follows the careful tactical strategies of statesmen as diverse as Pericles, Demosthenes, Alexander, Pyrrhus, Caesar, and Augustus. __Makers of Ancient Strategy__ shows how Greco-Roman history sheds light on wars of every age. In addition to the editor, the contributors are David L. Berkey, Adrian Goldsworthy, Peter J. Heather, Tom Holland, Donald Kagan, John W. I. Lee, Susan Mattern, Barry Strauss, and Ian Worthington. Timeless lessons from the military strategies of the ancient Greeks and Romans In this prequel to the now-classic Makers of Modern Strategy , Victor Davis Hanson, a leading scholar of ancient military history, gathers prominent thinkers to explore key facets of warfare, strategy, and foreign policy in the Greco-Roman world. From the Persian Wars to the final defense of the Roman Empire, Makers of Ancient Strategy demonstrates that the military thinking and policies of the ancient Greeks and Romans remain surprisingly relevant for understanding conflict in the modern world. The book reveals that much of the organized violence witnessed today—such as counterterrorism, urban fighting, insurgencies, preemptive war, and ethnic cleansing—has ample precedent in the classical era. The book examines the preemption and unilateralism used to instill democracy during Epaminondas's great invasion of the Peloponnesus in 369 BC, as well as the counterinsurgency and terrorism that characterized Rome's battles with insurgents such as Spartacus, Mithridates, and the Cilician pirates. The collection looks at the urban warfare that became increasingly common as more battles were fought within city walls, and follows the careful tactical strategies of statesmen as diverse as Pericles, Demosthenes, Alexander, Pyrrhus, Caesar, and Augustus. Makers of Ancient Strategy shows how Greco-Roman history sheds light on wars of every age. In addition to the editor, the contributors are David L. Berkey, Adrian Goldsworthy, Peter J. Heather, Tom Holland, Donald Kagan, John W. I. Lee, Susan Mattern, Barry Strauss, and Ian Worthington. Victor Davis Hanson, A Leading Scholar Of Ancient Military History, Gathers Prominent Thinkers To Explore Key Facets Of Warfare, Strategy, And Foreign Policy In The Greco-roman World. From The Persian Wars To The Final Defense Of The Roman Empire, Makers Of Ancient Strategy Demonstrates That The Military Thinking And Policies Of The Ancient Greeks And Romans Remain Surprisingly Relevant For Understanding Conflict In The Modern World.--jacket. From Persia With Love : Propaganda And Imperial Overreach In The Greco-persian Wars / Tom Holland -- Pericles, Thucydides, And The Defense Of Empire / Donald Kagan -- Why Fortifications Endure : A Case Study Of The Walls Of Athens During The Classical Period / David L. Berkey -- Epaminondas The Theban And The Doctrine Of Preemptive War / Victor Davis Hanson -- Alexander The Great, Nation Building, And The Creation And Maintenance Of Empire / Ian Worthington -- Urban Warfare In The Classical Greek World / John W. I. Lee -- Counterinsurgency And The Enemies Of Rome / Susan Mattern -- Slave Wars Of Greece And Rome / Barry Strauss -- Julius Caesar And The General As State / Adrian Goldsworthy -- Holding The Line : Frontier Defense And The Later Roman Empire -- Peter J. Heather. Edited And Introduced By Victor Davis Hanson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents List of Contributors Introduction: Makers of Ancient Strategy. From the Persian Wars to the Fall of Rome 1. From Persia with Love. Propaganda and Imperial Overreach in the Greco-Persian Wars 2. Pericles, Thucydides, and the Defense of Empire 3. Why Fortifications Endure. A Case Study of the Walls of Athens during the Classical Period 4. Epaminondas the Theban and the Doctrine of Preemptive War 5. Alexander the Great, Nation Building, and the Creation and Maintenance of Empire 6. Urban Warfare in the Classical Greek World 7. Counterinsurgency and the Enemies of Rome 8. Slave Wars of Greece and Rome 9. Julius Caesar and the General as State 10. Holding the Line. Frontier Defense and the Later Roman Empire Acknowledgments Index