Byzantine Armies 886-1118 (Men-at-Arms)

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By: Ian Heath
(5 customer reviews)
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EDITORIAL REVIEW

The Byzantines had a remarkably sophisticated approach to politics and military strategy. Unlike most of their contemporaries, they learnt very early in their history that winning a battle did not necessarily win a war, and they frequently bought off their enemies with treaties and bribes rather than squander men and matériel in potentially fruitless campaigns. The Byzantine army of the 10th and early 11th centuries, at the height of its power and efficiency, was the best-organised, best-trained, best-equipped and highest-paid in the known world. This splendid book by Ian Heath examines the Byzantine Armies from 886-1118, including the lusty, hard-fighting, hard-drinking 'barbarian' Varangian guard.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Pub. Date: 5th July 1979
Catalog: Book
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 48
Ean: 9780850453065
Isbn: 0850453062

ABOUT THIS BOOK

USER REVIEWS

wait for the next edition
~ Written on Nov 7, 2007. 4 out of 4 users found this review helpful.

Now don't get me wrong, I didn't give this book a 3-star rating because it's badly-written or of low quality; on the contrary, it's very well-written with an excellent collection of manuscript illuminations,paintings,carvings and plaques in addition to Angus McBride's top notch illustrations.

But it has a very,very serious drawback.With the exception of McBride's drawings all the other illustrations are black and white.I was already aware of that from previous reviews, before placing my order, but I thought I'd be able to live with that.Well, I can't.I compared these illustrations with their coloured versions found online and simply put, they can't be compared for detail,immediacy or effect.

Besides, the more I think about it the more I find it ridiculous that an illustration book (an illustration! book for God's sake) in this day and age could still be in black and white.

I was planning to order three more books of the Men-at-Arms series but not anymore.I prefer to wait for a (hopefully) future colour edition.This would also be my suggestion for anyone asking me...

Early Byzantine Armies
~ Written on Apr 17, 2007. 1 out of 1 users found this review helpful.

Your standard men-at-arms book, concise but informative text paired with colorful plates to accurately rescontruct the appearance of the Byzantine Army and her mercenaries.

Another excellent piece of compact scholarship from Osprey!
~ Written on Aug 27, 2005. 3 out of 3 users found this review helpful.

My title says it all - Ian Heath's text and Angus McBride's art again make an invaluable resource for historians and students of art and history!

Another excellent Osprey Book!
~ Written on Nov 10, 2001. 6 out of 6 users found this review helpful.

As typical for the Osprey Men at Arms series, this book has lovely color artwork, and excellent photographs and line drawings of equipment and people in clothing of the period. The arms and armor are well shown, as are various shield designs. There is a nicely written history and descriptions of the tactics, main conflicts, weapons and equipment of this historical period.
If you are not familiar with the Osprey Men at Arms series, I am sure that this will be a good starting book for your research into the subject. If you are familiar, then you know what I mean.

An excellent introduction to the subject
~ Written on Jun 29, 2000. 7 out of 9 users found this review helpful.

This book gives the basic information about the organization, composition and equipment of the Byzantine army from 886 to 1118. There are many pictures but unfortunately most of them are not in color. At the end the author has also included a list of books that deal with the subject more extensively, for those interested. Angus McBride's illustrations are phenomenal as usual.

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