The Great Armies of Antiquity

Description

Gabriel examines 18 ancient army systems, examining the organizational structure and weapons employed and the degree to which cultural values and imperatives shaped the form and application of military force. The tactical doctrines and specific operational capabilities of each army are analyzed to explain how certain technical limitations and societal/cultural imperatives affected the operational capabilities of ancient armies. Cross-cultural and cross-historical connections ground the analysis in the larger historical context of the ancient world. •Sumer and Akkad •The Armies of the Pharaohs •The Hittites •The Mitanni •Armies of the Bible •The Iron Army of Assyria •Chinese Armies •Persia and the Art of Logistics •The Greeks •Carthaginian Armies •Armies of India •Rome •The Iberians, Celts, Germans, and Goths •The Army of Byzantium •The Vikings •The Arab Armies •The Japanese Way of War •The Mongols •The Ottomans This book also provides an introductory overview of war in the ancient world, from 2500 B.C.E. to 1453 C.E., as well as an examination of the evolution of modern warfare from 1453 to 2002 C.E. Cover Contents Illustrations Foreword Preface 1. War in the Ancient W orId 2. The WorId' s First Armies, Sumer and Akkad 3. The Armies of the Pharaohs 4. The Hittites and Iron Weapons 5. The Mitanni and the War Chariot 6. The Armies of the Bible 7. The Iron Army of Assyria 8. Chinese Armies: The Shang and Zhou Periods 9. Persia and the Art of Logistics 10. The Greek Way of War: Classical and Imperial Periods 11. Carthaginian Armies 12. Armies of Ancient India: Vedic and Imperial Periods 13. Rome: The Armies of the Caesars 14. Barbarian Armies: Iberians, Gauls, Germans, and Goths 15. The Army of Byzantium 16. The Vikings: Raiders from the Open Sea 17. The Arab Armies 18. The Japanese Way of War 19. The Mongols 20. The Ottomans 21. The Evolution of Modem War Selected Bibliography Index