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Warfare in the Ancient World From the Bronze Age to the Fall of Rome
Stefan G. Chrissanthos
ISBN: 0-275-98519-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-275-98519-6
248 pages
Praeger Publishers
Publication: 10/30/2008
List Price: $44.95 (UK Sterling Price: £31.95)
Availability: In Stock
Media Type: Hardcover
Also Available: Ebook
Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
Subjects:
Description: From the clash of bronze weapons on bronze armor to the fall of Rome, war often decided the course of ancient history. This volume is a practical introduction to the study of warfare in the ancient world, beginning with Egypt and Mesopotamia, and tracing the advances made in battle tactics, technology, and government over hundreds of years, culminating with developments in Greece and the Roman Empire. The chronological structure allows the reader to trace certain general themes down through the centuries: how various civilizations waged war; who served in the various armies and why; who the generals and officers were who made the decisions in the field; what type of government controlled these armies; and from what type of society they sprang. Major events and important individuals are discussed in their historical contexts, providing a complete understanding of underlying causes, and enabling readers to follow the evolution of ancient warfare as armies and empires became steadily larger and more sophisticated. Yet as Chrissanthos makes clear, history comes full circle during this period. Rome's collapse in 476 C.E. inaugurated an unforeseen dark age in which great armies were left decimated despite advanced technology that, while proving decisive in the outcome of many critical battles and stand-offs, had vanished amidst the Empire's crumbling walls.

In addition to the chronological treatment, Chrissanthos also includes sections on such important topics as chariot warfare, cavalry, naval warfare, elephants in battle, the face of battle, and such vital, but often-overlooked topics as the provisioning of the army with sufficient food and water. Eyewitness accounts are incorporated throughout each chapter, allowing the reader brief glimpses into the life and times of peasants and soldiers, generals and politicians, all of whom were dealing with war and its irreconcilable consequences from differing vantage points. Battle diagrams and maps are carefully placed throughout the text to help the reader visualize particular aspects of ancient warfare. The book also furnishes a detailed timeline and an extensive bibliography containing both modern and ancient sources.
Table of Contents:
  • Series Foreword by Bella Vivante
    Warfare Timeline
    Introduction
    1. War in the Bronze Age
    2. War in the Iron Age
    3. War in the Archaic Age Greece, 800-500 B.C.E.
    4. The Great Wars of Classical Greece, 499-362 B.C.E.
    5. The Rise of Macedonia, 359-323 B.C.E.
    6. War in the Hellenistic Age, 323-276 B.C.E.
    7. The Rise of Rome, 753-264 B.C.E.
    8. Romes March to Empire, 264-146 B.C.E.
    9. The Fall of the Roman Republic, 133-31 B.C.E.
    10. The Roman Empire, 31B.C.E.-180C.E.
    11. THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, 180 C.E.-476 C.E.
    Notes
    Bibliography
About the Author: Stefan G. Chrissanthos teaches Greek, Roman, and World History at the University of California at Riverside. A scholar of ancient military history, he has contributed to numerous books on various military subjects, and has published many articles in journals such as the Journal of Roman Studies and Historia.
PDF Catalogs:
Praeger Public Library Spring 2009.pdf
Academic Library Spring 2009.pdf
Praeger Public Library Spring 2008.pdf
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