A companion to the roman army paul erdkamp download. The forces which composed the roman army under the empire may be divided into the following five groups. The complete roman army books pics download new books. Monetary policies, the soldiers pay and the onset of crisis in. Their generals, legions, tactics, strategies, weapons, armor and warfare up to the downfall of the late empires legions.
The roman military was the most successful and powerful in history, dominating the western world for over a thousand years. This book is a valuable work for the reference shelf and a bible for military buffs. A companion to the roman army questia online library. The early roman manipular legion, used from the fourth century b. The complete roman army draws on archaeology, ancient art and original documentary sources to present a picture of one of the worlds most famous fighting machines. The size, strength and organization of their infantry force wouldnt be equaled again for another thousand years. The roman army is recognised by historians as an extremely effective fighting machine.
Organization of the roman army the success of the roman. The coverage spans from the first citizen militias to the army of late antiquity. An army brigadier general recommends 10 military books for. It was also the source of the empires economic and political strength, ensuring domestic peace so. As the capital of the roman empire, it was clearly an exceptional city in terms of size, diversity and complexity.
A companion to the roman army edited by paul erdkamp a companion to the roman republic edited by nathan rosenstein and robert morsteinmarx a companion to the roman empire edited by david s. As the title suggests, the book covers everything from the evolution of the roman army to its structure and the daily life of its soldiers. Apr 30, 20 the roman army, famed for its discipline, organisation, and innovation in both weapons and tactics, allowed rome to build and defend a huge empire which for centuries would dominate the mediterranean. Between 5000 and 6000 legionaries made up a legion that was commanded by a legatus. Erdkamp, p the corn supply of the roman armies during the principate 27 bc 235 ad. The principal source for the battle of adrianople is the roman historian ammianus marcellinus. Roman military from the roman republics to the late roman empire. Jan 01, 2002 buy the roman army and the economy by paul erdkamp isbn. Henceforth the roman army was made up of a body of men whose character was essentially that of mercenaries, and whose term of continuous service varied in different divisions from 16 to 26 years. A companion to the roman army by paul erdkamp, 9781444339215, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The roman army was the backbone of the empires power, and the romans managed to conquer so many tribes, clans, confederations, and empires because of their military superiority. An extensive account of the roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later roman. Elton, hugh, frontiers of the roman empire bloomington. Table of contents for a companion to the roman army edited by paul erdkamp. Paul erdkamp is the author of a companion to the roman army 4.
How did the italian army, descended from the mighty roman legions, become a byword for military incompetence. Dec 21, 2010 a companion to the roman army by paul erdkamp, 9781444339215, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Classical scholar baker tells of the changing roman world in which constantine. A companion to the roman army, book by paul erdkamp. Buy the roman army and the economy by paul erdkamp isbn. The tone of the handbook is informal, which is far more appealing to students than a dry textbook. Once in a while a book is published that becomes a standard reference work for students for its day. 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.
The gradual development of a military profession and standing army culminated in the admission of the poorest class to the ranks by marius about 107 bc. Rome rose to become the greatest military force in the history of the west only to parish by the sword. Isbn 0060838523 goldsworthy outlines the campaigns of the roman military from the initial conquest of italy to the end of the western empire. It was instituted by augustus, the first roman emperor, as a permanent revenue source for pensions praemia for veterans of the imperial roman army. Best defense an army brigadier general recommends 10 military books for military leaders anthony j. Contents data are machine generated based on prepublication provided by the publisher. The roman army consisted of four legions, each with the strength of roughly 4200 infantrymen. It was also the source of the empires economic and political strength, ensuring domestic peace so that trade could flourish. The legionaires of the roman army were recruited only from those who had roman citizenship.
There are many reasons why the roman army was so effective, one was its recruitment process probatio which consisted in determining if a potential recruit fulfilled the necessary criteria to serve in the imperial roman army. A companion the roman army imperial romans new zealand. Paul erdkamp author of a companion to the roman army. Read the fulltext online edition of a companion to the roman army 2011. Welcome to the website of the roman military research society the rmrs. The treasury derived its funding from new taxes, an inheritance tax and a sales tax, and regularized the ad hoc provisions for veterans that under the republic often had involved. Deblois, lukas, the roman army and politics in the first century b. An extensive account of the roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later roman empire. A great introduction to the dynamics of the roman army.
The imperial roman army has been and is still admired by many people as an excellent fighting force. Every aspect of the roman army, from the daily lives of individual soldiers to the outcome of major campaigns, is explored in five accessible sections. It is thus a term that may span approximately 2,206 years 753 bc to 1453 ad, during. A companion to the roman army by paul erdkamp goodreads. Potter in preparation a companion to ancient history edited by andrew erskine a companion to archaic greece edited by kurt a. Paul erdkamp is research fellow in ancient history at leiden university. The aerarium militare was the military treasury of imperial rome.
As with all books in the osprey series, much of this ones 92 pages offer. We are a ukbased group of history enthusiasts who research and perform practical experiments to recreate, as accurately as possible, roman military and civil life. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The foederati a companion to the roman army stickler. A companion to the roman army edition 1 by paul erdkamp. A companion to the roman army, 2011 online research library. Buy a companion to the roman army blackwell companions to the ancient world by erdkamp, paul isbn. Apr 02, 2015 an army brigadier general recommends 10 military books for military leaders anthony j. This page explores and uncovers all wonder of different peculiarities surrounding the roman military machine from recruitment and training to retirement. The cambridge companion to ancient rome edited by paul. Table of contents for a companion to the roman army.
Bibliographic record and links to related information available from the library of congress catalog. The image of the roman legionary is as familiar today as it was to the citizens and enemies of the vast roman empire two thousand years ago. Warfare and food supply in roman republican wars 26430 bc 1998 and the grain market in the roman empire 2005, and editor of the roman army and the economy 2002. By the first century, many inhabitants of italy, spain and gaul france were roman citizens and were eligible to serve. Try peter connollys greece and rome at war one of the best books ever written on ancient warfare if you want a good short colourful introduction to the roman military you could look no further than osprey publishings many books on the subject on ospreys ancient world book list. The cambridge companion to ancient rome edited by paul erdkamp. The roman army was the machine that allowed rome to conquer its empire. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. A companion to the roman army paul erdkamp 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. Buy the paperback book a companion to the roman army by paul erdkamp at indigo. This companion provides an extensive account of the roman. In his introduction erdkamp states the underlying principals of this book that.
A companion to the roman army by paul erdkamp, 9781405121538, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. This book serves as a good general reference on roman warfare and contains a nice listing of primary sources contributed by artoria buy from amazon. 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. The lowest level of soldier in the roman army was the legionnaire. The roman army and politics in the first century before christ amsterdam 1987. The roman legionary was a soldier who was a roman citizen younger than 45. This book goes beyond the stereotypes found in popular culture to examine the roman army from the first armed citizens of the early republic through the glorious heights of the imperial legions to the shameful defeats inflicted upon the late roman. Edited by paul erdkamp, research fellow in ancient history at leiden university is a companion to the roman army blackwell press, oxford, 2007 which promises to be such a. Studies ancient history, economic history, and roman history. The guiding principle behind this companion to the roman army is the belief that the roman army cannot adequately be described only as an instrument of combat, but must be viewed also as an essential component of roman society, economy, and politics.
A companion to the roman army, 2011 online research. Carreras montfort, c the roman military supply during the principate. While the colosseum, imperial palaces and pantheon are among its most famous features, this volume explores rome primarily as a city in. Roman emperor constantine is one of the most momentous figures in the history of christianity, a ruler whose conversion turned the cult of jesus into a world religion. Military manuals are known to have been used by the roman army, and this book provides an educational but entertaining way of putting ancient history into modern hands. This book, another in the burgeoning special series from blackwell publishing, is an. Paul erdkamp, vrije universiteit brussel, history department, faculty member. This companion provides an extensive account of the roman ar. Osprey have books on every aspect of the roman military, from auxiliary forts, to late roman cavalrymen, to. Ammianus account is generally considered to be the most trustworthy and accurate, as he wrote within a short period after the battle, and was himself a military man, thus knowledgeable of technical details. 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. Paul erdkamp studied history at the universiteit van nijmegen, where he. Of course, the prime purpose of the roman army was to defeat the enemy in battle. Mar 31, 2011 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.