The Roman War Machine (Medieval Military Library) [Paperback]

John Peddie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997 | Series: Medieval Military Library

An examination of the Roman armies of the late Republic and early Empire which looks at the logistical and operational techniques which made the armies' successes possible. First published in 1994.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Peddie wrote many books, including 'Conquest'. Hannibal's War and 'Alfred Warrior King' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 169 pages
• Publisher: Combined Books (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938289853
• ISBN-13: 978-0938289852
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,871,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Is this about the British Army or the Roman Army?, March 29, 2001

By 

Matthew T Donaghue (Mound, MN 55364) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roman War Machine (Illustrated History) (Paperback)

Although this book has a great deal of valuable information about the nuts and bolts that held the Roman Army together, Peddie spends altogether too much time discussing the exploits of the British Army in WWII (particularly Field-Marshals Slim and Montgomery). As I read the book, I continually asked myself, "Is this about Slim and Montgomery or the Romans?"

Peddie made clear that the reason he discussed these problems was to show that the fundamental problems military commanders face have not changed in over 2000 years. However, as this book is geared towards readers with an interest in classical civilization, it should have focused on classical civilization and avoided the many needless references to the British Army in WWII. Perhaps in the United Kingdom this was useful but to a wider audience many of the examples were obscure at best.

Peddie would have been better served to compare and contrast the problems faced by the Roman Army during the various periods of Roman Civilization. For example, the Roman Army faced completely different problems during the Punic Wars than it did in the conquest of Gaul.

By nearly completely ignoring the Roman Army of the republican period, Peddie allows Julius Caeser to cast far too great of a shadow over the book. He would have been better served spending more time on Scipio Africanus and the founding of the Roman Army to show the reader how the army was built into a ruthlessly efficient war machine.

Also, a detailed discussion of some of the many Roman civil wars (such as 69 c.e. or Diocletian's reconquest) would have provided a great example of logistical, tactical and strategic problems faced by experienced and inexperienced Roman leaders alike.

This book was a great idea but it just didn't hit the mark. I would not recommend it to a serious student of Roman history.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Clear Description of the Roman Army, August 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Roman War Machine (Medieval Military Library) (Paperback)

It is some time since I read the book so my memory will be playing up, hence this will be rather vague. Essentially Peddie (a retired officer in the British Army) illuminates one aspect of the Roman Army in each chapter. This ranges from the Roman equivalent of staff officers, battlefield communications, marching camp techniques, siege warfare, equipment and other points. Some of the more interesting contents are his rebuffs of what many other military historians have perceived as weaknesses or want in the Roman Army. He clearly points out how everything served a valuable purpose in the Roman Army and what many have assumed were missing were actually there in one form or another. He also draws surprising similarities between the British campaign in Burma during WWII and the Roman way of war. All in all a most satisfying and clear read, though perhaps he digresses a bit too much on some occassions.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Missing Marius?, January 15, 2006

By 

SUPPORT THE ASPCA. "PILUM THROWER!" (?????) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Roman War Machine (Medieval Military Library) (Paperback)

Mr. Peddie knows his subject, the sources he sites and the detail are good. But, after a short time you start wondering if this book is about the Romans or the English?The first chapter on generalship and the last on siege warfare were the best. However, neglecting an innovative Roman commander like Marius left a whole in what could have been a fine line of continuity. Why was there no mention of the latters triumphs over the Cimbri, and Teutones? Had Marius lost Roman Civ. would have been swamped by the Germans five centuries earlier. Thus, the careers of Julius Caeser and Octavius Augustus would not have happened stunting the growth and possible existence of Western Civilization. I deduct one star for this illogical omission.