Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan (Men at Arms Series 46) [Paperback]

Michael Simkins (Author)

Book Description

Series: Men-at-Arms | Publication Date: March 29, 1984

Although the common Roman fighting men themselves have left no account, much literature has survived from antiquity. The wealth of archaeological finds, plus the study of surviving Roman scultpure has allowed hisorians to learn much about the nature of the Roman army which conquered an astonishing expanse of territory. Michael Simkins brings all his substantial knowledge to bear on this fascinating subject, covering such topics as army composition, recruitment, training, campaign routine and providing a wealth of detail on weapons, uniforms and equipment.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

About the Author

Michael Simkins is a respected author in the field of Ancient History, and he has written several titles for Osprey. He has a particular interest in and knowledge of the Roman Army in Britain, and is a keen re-enactor of this period. His interest extends to having personally recreated many of the weapon and armour pieces that the Roman legionnaire would have worn and used at this time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; 2nd edition (March 29, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0850455286
• ISBN-13: 978-0850455281
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.3 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for starting your research!, November 12, 2001

By 

Caius Fabius "caiusfabius" (Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan (Men at Arms Series 46) (Paperback)

This book has been around since the mid-1980's. It is well worth adding to your library of Roman Military books! The color drawings are not as fancy as the new style Osprey, but they show the details of Uniforms and equipments. The photographs and line drawings are excellent and make this well worth adding. Modern gladius copies use these sketches as the pattern for the decorations on scabbards. The descriptions and introductions of the Roman equipment are a good place to start learning.

Don't expect the artistic styles of later Osprey works, instead, you will find good scholarship from a master craftsman of Roman military equipment.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Little Reference Book, March 22, 2006

By 

Mike Dillemuth (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan (Men at Arms Series 46) (Paperback)

The author and illustrator did an excellent job of breaking down the various items of Roman armor and weapons. The author's descriptions of the various shields, swords, and body armor is very detailed. The illustrator also does an excellent job. The book contains several pages of color drawings which depict various Roman soldiers at different points in history. The photographs in the book, however, do not show authentic artifacts. They do show accurate recreations of Roman hardware. In addition to the book's analysis of Roman war material, it contains a very concise chronology of Roman history. There is also a listing of where the various legions were stationed around the world. Bottom line: This is a great little reference book on Roman weapons and armor. At 40 pages, it is also a quick read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Enough Space, March 29, 2007

By 

K. Murphy "Fortune favors the Bold" (The thriving metropolis of Masury, OH) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan (Men at Arms Series 46) (Paperback)

A fine intro to the subject, but it makes for somewhat dry reading. A men-at-arms title also does not have nearly the space for plates or text that this broad of a period deserves, but the author does an impressive job of describing the equipment of not only the classic legionaries, but also of both infantry and mounted auxiliary cohorts. The plates are also pretty good.