Roman Warfare (Phoenix Press)

This book is all about the history of Roman warfare. It is spanning the time period from the very beginning of the Roman Republic till the fall of the Empire, almost a thousand years later.
What is the explanation for the big success and the longevity of the successes of the Romans? What seemed to be the clue to success at the start turned out to be everlasting: First of all the total dedication to the task of destroying the opponent without any compromises, on the other side the lack of ongoing sentiments towards the once defeated which included the absorption of them, shown very clearly also in the fact that they used auxiliary forces. It went even so far that non- italian generals became emperors ("Turn the enemy of today into the Roman soldier of tomorrow").
All the capacity of the Empire was mobilized to serve the military. It was a military state. The Romans acquired the best weaponry, they had a well organized logistic support (which alone can stand for winning wars!), they had the most effective training which became over the years a highly professional affair and what was most decisive, they had the best tactics in uniform with a functioning discipline. And not least: "The Roman military system was characterized by its flexibility." Flexibility being a skill that later showed to be so decisive in Napoleons victories and the German "Blitzkrieg" troops (both Napoleon and the Nazis interstingly used Roman symbols!).
In fact there is almost nothing in modern armies of today that had not a forerunner and model in the Roman army (drill and clearly defined unit organization and command structure).
It were the Roman armies who laid the foundations of modern Europe more than Roman laws and education or whatever Latin input. Roman politics and warfare was closely connected. The right to exercise power in peacetime was purchased by the obligation to provide successful leadership in war. Even the word imperator means general.
The origins of the army in a citizens` militia, in which the whole community served in differing capacities according to their age and status, left a sense of shared endeavour. They fought, so to speak, for their own interests.
The Roman practise to turn defeated enemies into subordinate allies meant to use the resources of the conquest. But in the end it could have contributed to the fall of Rome.
Because too many non-italians became "Romans". Such in the case of Arminius who was a Germanic General in the Roman army. He organized the exterminating defeat of three Roman legions. This lead to the abandoning of the plans to conquer the land east of the Rhine from which later the fall of the Roman Empire was enforced, but from where also people invaded who later formed the French and English nations.
Roman rule was imposed and maintained by force, but it inaugurated in most areas periods of peace and prosperity far greater than was enjoyed in the centuries before or after the Empire.
There are too many aspects of Roman warfare that they could all be treated in detail in this volume. Therefore the author has tried to trace the development of warfare within the context of the evolution of the army and state, or at least those aspects of politics and society connected with the military. The nature of the army, why and with what objectives it fought a war, and the way in which it operated are discussed for each period and placed in the context of the military institutions of the main opponents.
Aspects as equipment, career and service patterns, daily routine, administration of the provinces, layout of forts and bases are only dealt with briefly. But every chapter of the book has a bibliography list about works that deal with these issues. This book can serve as a starting point for more study into any more specific topic. There is even a section listing Greek and Latin sources.
The book contains a chronology of events in short, then it goes on with chapters about Early Rome and the Conquest of Italy. In this period a nation established. The second chapter is about the wars with Carthage and the Hellenistic kingdoms which assured the Roman supremacy over the Mediterranean Seas and the most competitive opponents all around.
The third chapter is on the "world conquest" which means the conquest of the known "civilized" world (the countries around the Mediterranean Seas including Egypt, Syria, Gaul, Spain, Northern Africa) till the day of the first emperor Augustus with the "disaster in Germany (that) marked the end of the great period of Roman expansion." Following are the chapters about consolidation and control of the "World", about crisis and reforms, the collapse in the West and the Recovery in the East.
It should not be forgotten that the eastern "Roman Empire" had to live on till the 15.th century with the capital of Constantinople, until the Turks ended it, while Charlemagne was the first Germanic king who was crowned "Roman Emperor" some 300 years after the fall of the western Roman Empire to revive a so called successor "Roman Empire". This lasted one thousand years till the times of Napoleon in a succession of German kings crowned by the Pope to be "Roman" emperor. But that was politics and symbols.
There are helpful maps for every period of time. The photos are just good for breaking up the text. The text is apparently written from an expert. This book is good for what the author destined it.

I did learn stuff about Roman warfare, but I was expecting something a little bit more detailed. Its a general review, not a deep study. Towards the end of the book it also became somewhat repetitive.

This book was fantastic, Adrian Goldsworthy knows his stuff, and puts forward not just fact but his own well educated view to the reader. I would have gladly have spent double what I paid for it.

It is an overview, but is still well detailed and provides information regarding the change in the Roman army (of both the soldier and unit organisation) from about 700BC until the 6th century AD, but also mentions changes in her enemies and why Rome was such an invincible force, and then an empire corroded by civil war and enemies no longer in fear of her overwhelming strength.

This book was not only interesting but presented new information other than the repeated stuff I see on most documentaries.

Excellent short illustrated history of the Roman Army from the beginnings of Rome until the collapse of the Roman Empire in the west.
Recommended

This book is a lite review of Roman arms from the days when the 'army' stole chickens at night from neighbors, to around 600 AD. The book sorts things out, identifies the major players and actions, but doesnt go into depth. Its filled with photos and drawings. Reminds me of a NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC treatment of the subject.

I wont buy the book, but I'll recommend it to a high school kid taking World History.

Its well-written and interesting and whets your appetite for more.