Ancient Warfare

Greek and Roman warfare was unlike that of any other culture before or since. The key difference is often held to be that the Greeks and Romans practiced a "Western Way of War", in which the aim is an open, decisive battle - won by courage instilled, in part, by discipline. Here, Harry Sidebottom looks at how this Western Way of War was constructed and maintained by the Greeks and Romans and why this concept is so prevalent today.

A fresh account of some of history's greatest warriors. The Vikings had an extraordinary and far-reaching historical impact. From the eighth to the 11th centuries, they ranged across Europe - raiding, exploring, and colonizing - and their presence was felt as far away as Russia and Byzantium. They are most famous as warriors, yet perhaps their talent for warfare is too little understood.

The new edition of The Cambridge History of Warfare, written and updated by a team of eight distinguished military historians, examines how war was waged by Western powers across a sweeping timeframe beginning with classical Greece and Rome, moving through the Middle Ages and the early modern period, down to the wars of the 21st century in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.

It was to be the war to end all wars, and it began at 11:15 on the morning of June 28, 1914, in an outpost of the Austro-Hungarian Empire called Sarajevo. It would officially end nearly five years later. Unofficially, however, it has never ended: Many of the horrors we live with today are rooted in the First World War. The Great War left millions of civilians and soldiers maimed or dead. It also saw the creation of new technologies of destruction: tanks, planes, and submarines; machine guns and field artillery; poison gas and chemical warfare.

Learn the unbelievable true history of the great warrior tribes of Mexico. More than 13 centuries of incredible spellbinding history are detailed in this intriguing study of the rulers and warriors of Mexico. Dozens of these charismatic leaders of nations and armies are brought to life by the deep research and entertaining storytelling of Peter Tsouras. Tsouras introduces the reader to the colossal personalities of the period.

From an award-winning historian of ancient Rome, a concise and comprehensive history of the fighting forces that created the Roman Empire Roman warfare was relentless in its pursuit of victory. A ruthless approach to combat played a major part in Rome's history, creating an empire that...

In 431 BC, the long simmering rivalry between the city-states of Athens and Sparta erupted into open warfare, and for more than a generation the two were locked in a life-and-death struggle. The war embroiled the entire Greek world, provoking years of butchery previously unparalleled in ancient Greece. Whole cities were exterminated, their men killed, their women and children enslaved.

Between 1539 and 1542, the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto led a small army on an expedition of almost four thousand miles across Southeastern America. De Soto's path had been one of history's most intriguing mysteries until the publication of Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun. Using a new route reconstruction, anthropologist Charles Hudson maps the story of the de Soto expedition, tying the route to a number of specific archaeological sites.

This book is the sequel to “Harboring the Spirit of Jezebel – Caught in the web of Destruction.” In that book I explained the principal targets, suspects and retaliatory responses of Jezebel when she is exposed. In this book, my purpose is to expose some of Jezebels strategies, methods and operations specifically within the church. Together, we will explore Jezebels counterfeiting methods, her theatrical performances, perverse characteristics and unique tactics she implements in establishing a stronghold. Most people in the Church can identify some of Jezebels characteristics. Two of ...

Before the Romans could become masters of the Mediterranean, they had to first conquer the people of their own peninsula. This book explores the origins of Roman imperialism and the creation of Rome's early Italian empire, bringing new light and interpretations to this important but problematic period in Roman history. It explains how and why the Romans were able to expand their influence within Italy, often through the use of armed conflict, laying the foundations for their great imperial project.

Following the fall of Rome, the sea is increasingly the stage upon which the human struggle of western civilization is played out. In a world of few roads and great disorder, the sea is the medium on which power is projected and wealth sought. Yet this confused period in the history of maritime warfare has rarely been studied; it is little known and even less understood. Charles Stanton uses an innovative and involving approach to describe this fascinating but neglected facet of European medieval history.

Mastering the West offers a thoroughly engrossing narrative of this century of battle in the western Mediterranean, while treating a full range of themes: the antagonists' military, naval, economic, and demographic resources; the political structures of both republics; and the postwar impact of the conflicts on the participants and victims.

For the first time, By the Spear offers an exhilarating military narrative of the reigns of these two larger-than-life figures in one volume. Ian Worthington gives full breadth to the careers of father and son, showing how Philip was the architect of the Macedonian empire, which reached its zenith under Alexander, only to disintegrate upon his death.

Throughout history, warfare has played an important role in the development of many cultures around the world, and Mesoamerica is no exception. As J.M. Francis and T.M. Leonard noted, “The history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica was one of violence, though no more so than that of any other region of the ancient world. It was a universe of shifting alliances and mutual antagonisms, in which increasingly strong political entities forged themselves and then broke apart". In fact, warfare played an essential role in the formation of Mesoamerica as a cultural area.

Weapons of biological and chemical warfare have been in use for thousands of years, and Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs, Adrienne Mayor's fascinating exploration of the origins of biological and unethical warfare, draws extraordinary connections between the mythical worlds of Hercules and the Trojan War, the accounts of Herodotus and Thucydides, and modern methods of war and terrorism.

Unlock the forgotten tactics of one of antiquity’s most decisive — and overlooked — battles. In Strategies of War, Author Terry Sloan brings to life the Battle of the Himera River (480 BCE), a pivotal yet often ignored conflict that unfolded on the shores of ancient Sicily. While the Persian armies clashed with the Greeks at Thermopylae and Salamis, a simultaneous war raged in the West — where a Greek alliance confronted the mighty Carthaginian forces in a struggle that would shape the balance of power in the Mediterranean. Through vivid narrative, detailed tactical analysis, and ...

Fear is a lie. Power is a choice. Balance is the key For centuries, the world has been controlled by an invisible force, manipulating minds, rewriting history, and silencing those who dare to awaken. The Deep State, an ancient order of warlocks, dark sorcerers, and corrupt elites, has worked from the shadows, feeding on fear, enslaving the masses, and severing humanity’s connection to its true cosmic heritage. But destiny has other plans. Born under the sacred energies of the Phasing Moon, marked by prophecy, bound to the cosmic force of Gaia, and possessing abilities beyond comprehension...

War's Fury Builds. With the Sprawling barbarians finished, Martius and the victorious Fifteenth Legion are called south to the grand capital of Belgada. The great gryphon Avorian and his rider both dream of further glory against the empire's distant enemies, but trouble brews far closer to home. As chaos rips through the imperial palace, can the Fifteenth Legion march quick enough to save the empire? Or will further twists of the Infinities doom the people of Belgada to eternal hardship and war? The smashing sequel to The Talon's Fury is here. Grab your copy to continue the epic adventure ...

Most scientists believe the evolution of humans has a history nearly as long as life itself. Anatomically modern humans and all other life that has existed on the planet first came about from the single-celled microorganisms that emerged approximately four billion years ago. Through the processes of mutation and natural selection, all forms of life developed, and this continuous lineage of life makes it difficult to say precisely when one species completely separates from another.

The Great History of War From the first tribal conflicts of prehistory to the global wars that shaped the modern age, The Great History of War traces humanity’s relentless evolution through the lens of battle. This sweeping narrative explores how war has defined civilizations, inspired innovation, and reshaped empires across more than five millennia of human history. Beginning with the dawn of organized combat, the book journeys through the rise of ancient armies, the strategic brilliance of Alexander the Great, the disciplined might of Rome, the zeal of religious crusades, and the fury ...