Download or read book The Thracians 700 BC AD 46 written by Christopher Webber and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2001-09-25 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Throughout the three centuries before Christ many hundreds of thousands of Thracians, in more than 40 tribes, occupied the area between northern Greece, southern Russia and north-west Turkey. Skilled horsemen, masters of light infantry fighting in broken terrain, and renowned for their ferocity, the Thracians were feared by even the greatest of their contemporaries, who were eager to employ them as mercenaries. After surviving invasions by the Persians, Greeks, Macedonians and Celts, the Thracians were finally conquered by Rome in AD 46. This concise but lavishly illustrated study of their history and material culture includes the results of the latest archaeological research, notably some remarkable tomb paintings.

Download or read book The Gods of Battle written by Chris Webber and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2011-07-12 with total page 373 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Herodotus described the Thracians (who inhabited what is now roughly modern Bulgaria, Romania, the European part of Turkey and northern Greece) as the most numerous nation of all - apart from the Indians - and said that they would be the most powerful of all nations if they didnt enjoy fighting each other so much. There may have been a million Thracians, divided among as many as 40 tribes.Ancient writers were hard put to decide which of the Thracian tribes was the most valiant; they were employed as mercenaries by all the great Mediterranean civilizations. Thrace had the potential to field huge numbers of troops, and the Greeks and Romans lived in fear of a dark Thracian cloud descending from the north, devastating civilization in the Balkans. The Thracian way of warfare had a huge influence on Classical Greek and Hellenistic warfare. After Thrace was conquered by the Romans, the Thracians provided a ready source of tough auxiliaries to the Roman army. Chris Webber gives an overview of Thracian history and culture, but focuses predominantly on their warfare and weapons. The latest archaeological finds are used to give the most detailed and accurate picture yet of their arms, armor and costume. He identifies and differentiates the many different tribes, showing that their weapons and tactics varied. The resulting study should be welcomed by anyone interested in the archaeology and history of the region or in classical warfare as a whole.

Download or read book Armies of the Scythians and Sarmatians 700 BC to AD 450 written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2024-07-04 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Scythians and Sarmatians, nomadic horse warriors, ruled the Black Sea with archery and swift cavalry. The Scythians were a horse nomads from the central Eurasian steppes who migrated south and west into the region around the Black Sea from the seventh century BC which they dominated until replaced and absorbed by the very similar Sarmatians from the third century BC. A harsh life spent riding, herding and hunting on the steppes made them into tough warriors, and highly skilled horsemen and archers. Their armies were highly mobile, mostly comprising swift mounted archers capable of elusive hit-and-run attacks but with the wealthier warriors constituting a core of heavier cavalry, armored and equipped for close combat. Over hundreds of years the Scythians fought, and often defeated, such notable opponents as the Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Greeks and Macedonians. Their Sarmatian successors continued the tradition, being among the Romans’ most dangerous opponents for several centuries. Gabriele Esposito discusses these remarkable warriors of the steppes, analysing what made them such formidable opponents to their neighbours over the centuries. He describes in detail their weapons, armor, equipment and tactics as they evolved over the centuries. The fascinating text is supported by dozens of beautiful color photographs of replica costume, arms and equipment in use.

Download or read book Armies of the Thracians Dacians 500 BC AD 150 written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2021-06-30 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A history of these warring armies who dominated the ancient world, with eighty detailed photos and illustrations of equipment. The Thracians, mentioned as early as the eighth century BC in Homer’s Iliad, were fundamental in the evolution of Greek military systems across the ages. They fought in the Persian Wars, were part of Alexander the Great’s army, were used as mercenaries in many Hellenistic armies, and resisted Roman conquest for a long time. In addition, they used some iconic weapons and had a distinctive panoply. The Dacians were a mix of different cultures and were extremely influenced by some steppe peoples, such as the Sarmatians. They had a lot in common with the Thracians, but had a different history. They formed one of the largest and most powerful kingdoms of antiquity, a sort of superpower that dominated over the Balkans. Their wars against Trajan and the Roman Army were absolutely epic, the last campaigns of conquest in the history of the Western Roman Empire. This book about the Thracians and Dacians features a rich collection of photos specifically created for it by reenactors.

Download or read book Armies of Celtic Europe 700 BC AD 106 written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2019-10-30 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A look at the military might of these ancient warriors who sacked Rome and conquered much of Europe. Although comprised of many distinct tribes and groupings, the Celts shared a distinctive culture that dominated much of Europe for centuries, and enjoyed a formidable reputation as fierce and brave warriors, skilled horsemen, and fine metalworkers. In 390 BC, an alliance of Celtic tribes defeated a Roman army at the River Allia and went on to sack Rome and thenceforth the Romans lived under their threat. In the early third century BC, a Celtic army swept into Macedonia and Greece, won a major victory at Thermopylai, and ransacked the sacred sanctuary at Delphi. Such was their warlike prowess that, when not fighting their own wars, they were sought after as mercenaries by many armies, serving as far afield as southern Egypt. When the Romans invaded Gaul—modern-day France and Belgium—and the British Isles, Celtic armies resisted them fiercely. In this book, Gabriele Esposito studies this fascinating warrior culture, their armies, strategy, tactics, and equipment—they invented the horned saddle and chainmail, and British armies were the last in Europe to use chariots on the battlefield. Also included are dozens of color photographs of reenactors to help bring these magnificent warriors back to life.

Download or read book Armies of the Hellenistic States 323 BC AD 30 written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2019-02-28 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This fully illustrated history chronicles the evolution of Hellenistic warfare from the death of Alexander the Great to Rome’s conquest of the region. This book provides a complete and detailed analysis of the organization and equipment employed by the armies of the Hellenistic States. After Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BC, his immense Macedonian empire was divided between his generals, who in turn formed their own monarchies across Eastern Europe, Asia and North Africa. This work will follow the development of the Hellenistic military forces from the army bequeathed by Alexander to the complex military machines that succumbed one by one in the wars against the expanding Romans. Fully illustrated with color photographs, this volume also shows how Hellenistic forces were strongly influenced by Roman models during the last years of independence of their kingdoms. The states analyzed are: Macedon, Seleucid Empire, Ptolemaic Egypt, The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, Armenia, Pergamon, Pontus, Cappadocia, Galatia, The Bosporan Kingdom, Epirus, Sicily, The Achaean League and The Aetolian League.

Download or read book The Great Illyrian Revolt written by Jason R. Abdale and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2019-06-30 with total page 351 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The little-known story of a fierce rebellion against the Romans:“A very good read for anyone interested in ancient military history and historiography.” —The NYMAS Review In the year AD 9, three Roman legions were crushed by the German warlord Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. This event is well known, but there was another uprising that Rome faced shortly before, which lasted from AD 6 to 9, and was just as intense. This rebellion occurred in the western Balkans—an area roughly corresponding to modern Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, and parts of Serbia and Albania—and it tested the Roman Empire to its limits. For three years, fifteen legions fought in the narrow valleys and forest-covered crags of the Dinaric Mountains in a ruthless war of attrition against an equally ruthless and determined foe, and yet this conflict is largely unknown today. The Great Illyrian Revolt is believed to be the first book ever devoted to this forgotten war of the Roman Empire. Within its pages, we examine the history and culture of the mysterious Illyrian people, the story of how Rome became involved in this volatile region, and what the Roman army had to face during those harrowing three years in the Balkans.

Download or read book Greek and Macedonian Land Battles of the 4th Century B C written by Fred Eugene Ray, Jr. and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2012-09-28 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With its mixture of famous battles and storied commanders, warfare in 4th century B.C. Greece has long held a fascination for military enthusiasts and the general public alike. Histories, biographies, and popular culture have turned the exploits of noted generals like Xenophon and Iphicrates of Athens, Epaminondas of Thebes, and the father-son team of Philip II and Alexander the Great of Macedonia into the stuff of legend. Drawing from ancient accounts along with suitable analogs, this detailed work offers meticulous reconstructions of 187 of the 4th century's most significant land engagements, considering tactical patterns, evolving trends, and the lasting impact of the era's most influential military minds. By separating myth from reality, these recreations provide incredible insight into past ways of war that continue to influence the course of combat today.

Download or read book Thrax Warrior s Dawn written by David J. Greening and published by tolino media. This book was released on 2020-03-16 with total page 323 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “War waits for no-one” After the Age of Heroes: Ever since the fall of Troy, the House of Akamas ruled over the Chersonesos peninsula, unchallenged by Greeks and Thracians alike since time immemorial. But when Prince Bryzos, fourth in line to the throne, wakes up one morning half-drunk and with no clear recollection of the previous night’s events, his life is about to take a drastic turn for the worse: His father King Ozrykes disowns him, exiling the wayward prince to the countryside. And then, without warning, the inhabitants of the peninsula suddenly find themselves embroiled in a conflict played out hundreds of miles away between Sparta, the Odrysian Kingdom and the Persian Empire. As these super powers collide in war, the Apsinthians, the Dolonkan’s arch-enemies, grasp the opportunity to invade, laying waste to everything in their path. Caught up in events he is hardly able to comprehend, the womanizer and drunkard must become a warrior. And he will have to learn fast... or die.

Download or read book Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World written by Philip Matyszak and published by Thames & Hudson. This book was released on 2020-08-18 with total page 507 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A chronicle of forty forgotten ancient civilizations which highlights the important contributions that each has made to modern society. The ancient world of the Mediterranean and the Near East saw the birth and collapse of great civilizations. While several of these are well known, for all those that have been recorded, many have been unjustly forgotten. Our history is overflowing with different cultures that have all evolved over time, sometimes dissolving or reforming, though ultimately shaping the way we continue to live. But for every culture that has been remembered, what have we forgotten? This thorough guide explores those civilizations that have faded from the pages of our textbooks but played a significant role in the development of modern society. Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World covers the Hyksos to the Hephthalites and everyone in between, providing a unique overview of humanity’s history from approximately 3000 BCE–550 CE. A wide range of illustrated artifacts and artworks, as well as specially drawn maps, help to tell the stories of forty lost peoples and allow readers to take a direct look into the past. Each entry exposes a diverse culture, highlighting their important contributions and committing their achievements to paper. Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World is an immersive, thought-provoking, and entertaining book for anyone interested in ancient history.

Download or read book Fingerprinting the Iron Age Approaches to identity in the European Iron Age written by C?t?lin Nicolae Popa and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2014-09-30 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Archaeology has long dealt with issues of identity, and especially with ethnicity, with modern approaches emphasising dynamic and fluid social construction. The archaeology of the Iron Age in particular has engendered much debate on the topic of ethnicity, fuelled by the first availability of written sources alongside the archaeological evidence which has led many researchers to associate the features they excavate with populations named by Greek or Latin writers. Some archaeological traditions have had their entire structure built around notions of ethnicity, around the relationships existing between large groups of people conceived together as forming unitary ethnic units. On the other hand, partly influenced by anthropological studies, other scholars have written forcefully against Iron Age ethnic constructions, such as the Celts. The 24 contributions to this volume focus on the south east Europe, where the Iron Age has, until recently, been populated with numerous ethnic groups with which specific material culture forms have been associated. The first section is devoted to the core geographical area of south east Europe: Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia, as well as Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The following three sections allow comparison with regions further to the west and the south west with contributions on central and western Europe, the British Isles and the Italian peninsula. The volume concludes with four papers which provide more synthetic statements that cut across geographical boundaries, the final contributions bringing together some of the key themes of the volume. The wide array of approaches to identity presented here reflects the continuing debate on how to integrate material culture, protohistoric evidence (largely classical authors looking in on first millennium BC societies) and the impact of recent nationalistic agendas.

Download or read book Conflict in Ancient Greece and Rome 3 volumes written by Sara Elise Phang and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2016-06-27 with total page 2571 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The complex role warfare played in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations is examined through coverage of key wars and battles; important leaders, armies, organizations, and weapons; and other noteworthy aspects of conflict. Conflict in Ancient Greece and Rome: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia is an outstandingly comprehensive reference work on its subject. Covering wars, battles, places, individuals, and themes, this thoroughly cross-referenced three-volume set provides essential support to any student or general reader investigating ancient Greek history and conflicts as well as the social and political institutions of the Roman Republic and Empire. The set covers ancient Greek history from archaic times to the Roman conquest and ancient Roman history from early Rome to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. It features a general foreword, prefaces to both sections on Greek history and Roman history, and maps and chronologies of events that precede each entry section. Each section contains alphabetically ordered articles—including ones addressing topics not traditionally considered part of military history, such as "noncombatants" and "war and gender"—followed by cross-references to related articles and suggested further reading. Also included are glossaries of Greek and Latin terms, topically organized bibliographies, and selected primary documents in translation.

Download or read book The Macedonian Army of Philip II and Alexander the Great 359 323 BC written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2022-07-20 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a complete and detailed analysis of the organization and equipment of the Macedonian army built by Philip II and later employed to world-changing effect by his son, Alexander III (the Great). This work explains how Philip took the traditional forces of Macedon and reformed them into the most modern and sophisticated combined-arms force in the Mediterranean world. Not only the formidable pike phalanx and the hard-charging Companion cavalry, but also the less famous components, such as light and cavalry types, are described in detail. The tactics employed in the great battles that won the largest empire the world had seen are analyzed. With numerous color photos showing replica weapons and equipment in use, this is a vivid, detailed and accessible study of the army that made Alexander great.

Download or read book Armies of Ancient Greece Circa 500 338 BC written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2020-07-19 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illustrated with color photos, this guide details the arms, armor, organization, and tactics of Classical Greek armies. The Classical period includes some of the most famous wars and battles of Ancient Greece, including the defeat of the Persians at Marathon, the Spartans’ last stand at Thermopylae, the Peloponnesian War and the March of the Ten Thousand. The Greek heavy infantry spearmen, or hoplites, are one of the most recognizable types of ancient warrior and their tightly-packed phalanx formation dominated the battlefield. Covering the period from the Persian Wars to the Macedonian victory at the Battle of Chaeronea, Gabriele Esposito examines the famous hoplites heavy infantry as well as other troops, such as light infantry skirmishers and cavalry. His clear, informative text is beautifully illustrated with dozens of color photographs showing how the equipment was worn and used.

Download or read book The Dacians and Getae at War written by Andrei Pogacias and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2023-04-27 with total page 115 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This intriguing book describes the Romans' formidably warlike enemies in modern Romania and Bulgaria – their 'most illustrated' opponents, thanks to friezes on Trajan's Column and carvings on Trajan's Adamklissi monument. Formidable warriors, able to field tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry and led by a military aristocracy, the Dacians and Getae presented a real threat to Rome's north-eastern frontier. They inflicted several defeats on Rome, crossing the Danube to invade the province of Moesia, and later stubbornly resisting counter-invasions from their strong mountain fortresses. Historians believe that the Dacians and Getae were essentially the same group of tribes during successive periods, related to Thracian tribes from territory south of the Carpathian Mountains, but their exact relationship in place and time is a subject for debate. Those called the 'Getae' by ancient Greek sources were actively expanding by at least the 4th century BC; some enlisted as mercenaries in Roman armies during the 1st century BC, and others later clashed with the army of Augustus, fighting alongside the Sarmatians. The people whom the Romans called the 'Dacians' are best known from wars against the emperors Domitian in AD 85–89 and Trajan in 101–106. At their peak, the Dacians and Getae defeated neighbouring peoples stretching from modern Slovakia to southern Ukraine and it is believed that the effectiveness of their weapons caused modifications in Roman infantry armour. Although most direct ancient sources have been lost to us, enough references remain to reconstruct a picture of their society and culture. Using previously unseen photos of archaeological finds with colour illustrations showing the appearance and weaponry of their warrior kings, noblemen, infantry and cavalry, this detailed book draws upon the latest literary and archaeological research to provide a complete account of these fascinating fighters.

Download or read book The Seleucid Army of Antiochus the Great written by Jean Charl Du Plessis and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2022-04-06 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *The Seleucid Empire was a superpower of the Hellenistic Age, the largest and most powerful of the Successor States, and it’s army was central to the maintenance of that power. Antiochus III campaigned, generally successfully, from the Mediterranean to India, earning the sobriquet 'the Great'. Jean Charl Du Plessis has produced the most in depth study available in English devoted to the troop types, weapons and armor of Antiochus’ army. He combines the most recent historical research and latest archaeological evidence with a strong element of reconstructive archaeology, that is the making and using of replica equipment. Sections cover the regular, Hellenistic-style core of the army, the auxiliaries from across the Empire and mercenaries, as well as the terror weapons of elephants and scythed chariots. Weapons and armor considered in great detail, including, for example, useful data on the performance of slings and the wounds they could inflict, drawing on modern testing and the author’s own experience. The army’s performance in its many battles, sieges and campaigns is analysed and assessed.

Download or read book The Army of the Early Roman Empire 30 BC AD 180 written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-06-30 with total page 309 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The legionary soldier of the early Empire period, with his distinctive segmented armor, is one of the images most closely associated by popular imagination with ancient Rome. Such soldiers conquered most of Britain, suffered and avenged the terrible disaster of the Teutoburg Forest and vanquished the fearsome Dacians across the Danube, a feat immortalized on Trajan’s Column, as well as fighting many other tribes. In the East they overcame the Great Jewish Revolt and repeatedly contended with mixed success against the powerful Parthians. This was the army that enforced the so-called Pax Romana at the point of a gladius and maintained the greatest empire the world had yet seen. Of course, such troops were also employed to bloody effect in the many civil wars such as those of AD69, ‘the Year of the Four of the Emperors’. Gabriele Esposito describes the tactics, organization and equipment of the Roman army at the height of its powers, considered by many to be the most efficient and powerful fighting force of the ancient world. He gives an overview of the most significant campaigns and considers in detail not only the iconic legionaries but also the various auxiliary units, including cavalry. His clear, accessible text is supported by dozens of color photos of replica weapons, armor and other kit in use.