Rome's desert frontier was one where the Empire faced few dangers, for here relations were generally based on a mutual interest in trade across the frontier. Yet when Rome did clash with desert peoples, particularly those of Syria and Arabia, the mobility, fighting skills and ability to withdraw into an arid wilderness often gave the Arabs, Berbers and Sudanese an extra edge. This fascinating volume by David Nicolle explores the history and armies of Rome's enemies of the desert frontier. The author's fine text is accompanied by a wealth of illustrations and photographs, including eight stunning full page colour plates by Angus McBride.
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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
David Nicolle was born in 1944, the son of the illustrator Pat Nicolle. He worked in the BBC Arabic service for a number of years, before going 'back to school', gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He later taught world and Islamic art and architectural history at Yarmuk University, Jordan. He has written many books and articles on medieval and Islamic warfare, and has been a prolific author of Osprey titles for many years. David lives and works in Leicestershire, UK.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Men-at-Arms series goes East,
By Olivier Clementin (Paris France) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rome's Enemies (5): The Desert Frontier (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)
Usual Men-At-Arms series quality, lots of pictures, interesting historical background. Covers North Africa (Numidia, Nubia), Syria (Palmyra), Mesopotamia (Hatra), Arabia (Nabateans, Lakhmids and Yemenis) and a good bibliography.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
So often forgotten,
By Anibal Madeira (Lisboa Portugal) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rome's Enemies (5): The Desert Frontier (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)
Professor David Nicolle made a superb job. In just 40 pages plus 8 competent Angus McBride colored plates; he managed to competently give a broad overview of the main civilizations and tribes that lived in the southern and eastern frontiers of the Roman world.
The title is somewhat misleading, most of the peoples described had excellent diplomatic relations with Rome, even policing the desert and providing auxiliary troops and later serving as foederati; though occasionally there was tension and conflict. With the colored plates you can see good representations of several of those tribes, and in this book this is quite important so that we can see for example Iranian influences in palmyran dress and weapons or the Egyptian Pharaonic influence in the Meroitic civilization. It includes the following plates: North Africa 2nd - 1st Cent BC; Meroitic Sudan; Nubia 3rd-4th Cent AD; Judaea & Arabia Petraea; Palmyra 3rd Cent AD; Palmyra & Hatra 2nd-3rd Cent AD; Arabia Felix & Aethiopia 4th-6th Cent AD and Iran's Desert Neighbors 3rd-6th Cent AD. Also very interesting are the black and White photos with pictures of statues of palmyran gods; you will also find excellent archeological drawings of artifacts, fortifications, graffiti and petroglyphs (this is one of Prof Nicolle greatest virtues - he almost always shows his sources to document his claims - the mark of a true scholar). It's divided by regions so it saves space not describing similar characteristics of different tribes that shared ways of living and fighting. You will find information about Western North Africa (including Berbers and Numids), Nile Valley (including the Noba and Meroe), Southern Arabia (Yemen, Hijaz, Mecca among others), Siria (Nabatea, Idumeans, Palmyra, etc.) and also Mesopotamia (including the Lakhmids, Hatra, etc.). There are two mistakes that stole one star of the otherwise well deserved five stars this book should get. The birth of Christ dated at 6 AD (that's clearly impossible, Herod the great died 4 BC...all scholars I read about that issue refer between 8 BC and 4 BC); and a siege of Hatra at 137 AD (I know of the Trajan's siege of 117 and the Severan at the end of the II cent. - Probably Prof Nicolle is referring to the 117 AD siege). Very good book and clearly recommended to get an overview of those Rome's neighbors so often forgotten.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eastern Warriors,
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: Rome's Enemies (5): The Desert Frontier (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)
I could not give this book enough stars. The plates are beautiful and detailed even by Angus McBride's standards, but the text by itself would still be worth every penny. It examines a somewhat overlooked subject and researches it in a detailed and captivating manner. It covers the following peoples/regions:
North Africa Southern Arabia Central Arabia Syria (including Herodian and zealot Jewish armies under Roman rule) Mesopotamia The plates are: A: A Numidian prince and two of his warriors B: A Meroitic Lady and two of her warriors C: King Silko, a tribal archer, and a Roman mercenary D: A Herodian cavalryman and an Arab ally are attacked by a Jewish rebel E: The beautiful Queen Zenobia of Palmyra with her husband Odenathus and a retainer F: Palmyran armies G: Ethiopian Governor or Arabia Felix, with Arab troops H: Arab auxiliaries in Romano-Byzantine service on the eve of the rise of Islam Also has a good plate commentary and, even besides the plates is visually exciting. Highly recommended!
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Rome's desert frontier was one where the Empire faced few dangers, for here relations were generally based on a mutual interest in trade across the frontier. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Dura Europos, North Africa, National Mus, Middle East, Middle Ages, King Herod, Queen Zenobia, Red Sea, Roman Empire, Art Gallery, Prophet Muhammad, British Mus, Fertile Crescent, First Jewish Revolt, King Silko, Sassanian Empire, Palmyra Mus, Roman Syria, Arch of Constantine, Kinda Arab, Nabatean Petra, Trajan's Column, University Mus, Yale Univ New!
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Rome's desert frontier was one where the Empire faced few dangers, for here relations were generally based on a mutual interest in trade across the frontier. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Dura Europos, North Africa, National Mus, Middle East, Middle Ages, King Herod, Queen Zenobia, Red Sea, Roman Empire, Art Gallery, Prophet Muhammad, British Mus, Fertile Crescent, First Jewish Revolt, King Silko, Sassanian Empire, Palmyra Mus, Roman Syria, Arch of Constantine, Kinda Arab, Nabatean Petra, Trajan's Column, University Mus, Yale Univ New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
- The Jewish War: Revised Edition (Penguin Classics) by Flavius Josephus on page 36
- History of the Arabs, Revised: 10th Edition by Philip Hitti on page 42
- Byzantium and the Arabs in the Fourth Century by Irfan Shahîd on page 42
- The Roman Empire (History Action Pack) by Chris Jordan on page 34
- Rome and the Arabs: A Prolegomenon to the Study of Byzantium and the Arabs (Dumbarton Oaks Other Titles in Byzantine Studies) by Irfan Shahîd on page 42
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