The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare: Volume 1: Greece, the Hellenistic World and the Rise of Rome

I have just finished reading the first volume of the two, and the review is written based upon the first book. In spite of the title this is NOT a history of Greek and Roman Warfare, but rather a series of essays organized according to topic. The quality of the writing varies enormously, from the superb prose of Lendon to the difficult and almost unreadable essays by Hornblower and Hall. The best essays are those by Hanson(historiography of ancient warfare) Whitby (reconstructing ancient Wrfare) Strauss (Naval Combat and sieges) Billows (international relations) Sekunda (Land forces) Roth(War) Sabin(land battles) Serrati (Warfare and the state). The organization of this volume is peculiar, and to me non-intuitive (yet it seems to be the new style adopted by Cambridge University Press as can be seen in their volumes on 17th century philosophy) Because it is divided into sections and each into chapters that mirror the previous section there is a vacuum of background information or continuity. It is vital to have a deep knowledge of the period (as well as deep pockets to afford the book!) and a handbook such as Montagu's "Battles of the Greek and Roman Worlds" available. The bibliography is superb, the maps are good, the illustrations poor. At this price it is disgraceful that they are black and white, and some of are of the poorest quality of reproduction. P. 384 has a photo of the Via Appia that looks as if it was photocopied out of a 1950's school textbook!P.427 "Legion vs Phalanx at Pydna" is too small and lacking in contrast to understand the detail, and the reproductions of Greek pottery are sad. Yet this is a very illuminating volume. Warfare Was The Single Biggest Preoccupation Of Historians In Antiquity. In Recent Decades Fresh Textual Interpretations, Numerous New Archaeological Discoveries And A Much Broader Analytical Focus Emphasising Social, Economic, Political And Cultural Approaches Have Transformed Our Understanding Of Ancient Warfare. Volume I Of This Two-volume History Reflects These Developments And Provides A Systematic Account, Written By A Distinguished Cast Of Contributors, Of The Various Themes Underlying The Warfare Of The Greek World From The Archaic To The Hellenistic Period And Of Early And Middle Republican Rome. For Each Broad Period Developments In Troop-types, Equipment, Strategy And Tactics Are Discussed. These Are Placed In The Broader Context Of Developments In International Relations And The Relationship Of Warfare To Both The State And Wider Society. Numerous Illustrations, A Glossary And Chronology, And Information About The Authors Mentioned Supplement The Text. This Will Become The Primary Reference Work For Specialists And Non-specialists Alike. -- ‡c From Book Jacket. V. 1. Greece, The Hellenistic World And The Rise Of Rome -- V. 2. Rome From The Late Republic To The Late Empire. Edited By Philip Sabin, Hans Van Wees, Michael Whitby. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Greece, The Hellenistic World and the Rise of Rome ВОЕННАЯ ИСТОРИЯ, ИСТОРИЯ Издательство: Cambridge University PressСерия: The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman WarfareАвтор(ы): Philip SabinЯзык: EnglishГод издания: 2008Количество страниц: 631ISBN: 978-0-521-782739Формат: pdf (e-book)Размер: 8.78 mb RapidIfolder 85