A Companion to the Roman Army - (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World) by Paul Erdkamp (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This companion provides an extensive account of the Roman army, exploring its role in Roman politics and society as well as the reasons for its effectiveness as a fighting force.

• An extensive account of the Roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later Roman Empire
• Examines the army as a military machine - its recruitment, training, organization, tactics and weaponry
• Explores the relationship of the army to Roman politics, economics and society more broadly
• Considers the geography and climate of the lands in which the Romans fought
• Each chapter is written by a leading expert in a particular subfield and takes account of the latest scholarly and archaeological research in that area

From the Back Cover

Ancient Rome was a highly militaristic culture, at war almost annually throughout the period of the republic. The expert contributors to this volume delve into this culture, offering an extensive account of the Roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later Roman Empire. Taking account of the latest scholarly and archaeological research, they examine the recruitment, training, organization, tactics, and weaponry that contributed to Rome's effectiveness as a fighting machine.

The volume recognizes that, as a military force, the Roman army functioned in a landscape and was an integral part of Roman politics and society. The contributors therefore also explore the ecological, economic, social, and political factors that help to explain the characteristic features of the army and its development over time, covering such topics as: demography and manpower, the army as a community, the religions of the soldiers, the emperor as military commander, and veterans in society.

Review Quotes

"It is an excellent academic reference book and should prove a valuable resource for anyone interested in the development of the Roman Army as well as its interactions over a thousand years with the Empire it both served and influenced." (UNRV History, 1 April 2011)

"This book, another in the burgeoning special series from Blackwell Publishing, is an unqualified success. Rather than a simple assemblage of vaguely related, overspecialized academic papers, it is truly what its title promises--a companion." (Michigan War Studies, May 2010)

"This book is a valuable work for the reference shelf and a bible for military buffs." (Greece & Rome, 2008)

"This volume is another in the growing range of period- or topic-focused Companions to the Ancient World published by Blackwell. The Roman army, as a central institution and influence in so many aspects of Roman imperial history, is an obvious subject for such a volume. Like other volumes in the series, this one boasts an impressive range of international authors, and the scholarship is of a very high order." (New England Classical Journal, February 2009)

"It is no easy task to commission and co-ordinate 29 separate contributions, and the editor's energy in doing so should be recognized. The volume will happily sit on an academic bookshelf ... as a handy compendium of the views of the individual authors." (Bryn Mawr Classical Review, October 2008)

"The most extensive and likely best researched overview on the Roman army that is currently available." (Ancient Warfare)

"Highly readable, informative, and up-to-date survey.... The book constitutes an outstanding resource for many topics concerning the Roman army ... there is much to interest laymen ... and scholars alike." (Choice)

"It is particularly valuable in providing up-to-date accounts of the army's manifold aspect and the bibliographies to support them." (Scholia Reviews)

About the Author

Paul Erdkamp is Research Fellow in Ancient History at Leiden University. He is author of Hunger and the Sword: Warfare and Food Supply in Roman Republican Wars (264-30 BC) (1998) and The Grain Market in the Roman Empire (2005), and editor of The Roman Army and the Economy (2002).