The Walls of Rome (Fortress) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In all, this is an outstanding addition to the Fortress series and one that we can use both as a historical reference and as a guide to find and see these remnants for ourselves."- Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (May 2008)


"This is a good concise history of the fortification of the city of Rome from ancient times through the time of unification...a good reference for anyone interested in the defenses of Rome at the time of the decline of the empire." -J.E. Kaufmann, SiteO Newsletter (May 2008)

Product Description

Having defeated a Germanic invasion of northern Italy, the Emperor Aurelian surrounded Rome with a powerful circuit of walls. This great fortification is one of the best preserved of all city walls in the Roman Empire and remains a dramatic feature of Rome today, representing the most emblematic and the most enduring monument of Aurelian's age. Nothing else so eloquently demonstrates that, by Aurelian's day, the empire was on the defensive. Although embellished, strengthened and restored many times down the ages, Aurelian's original structure remained the basis of the city's defences through to the mid-19th century, when the Republican forces under Giuseppe Garibaldi managed for some time to withstand the French, and is still discernible today along much of the walls' circuit.

This title describes Aurelian's Wall in detail with cut-away cross sections, and investigates its historical purpose and military effectiveness within the general context of late Roman fortifications. A final section follows the history of the Wall's continued use beyond the Romano-Byzantine period, and provides an invaluable tourist aid.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; illustrated edition edition (March 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846031982
• ISBN-13: 978-1846031984
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #829,389 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very old Wall for a very old City, September 15, 2008

By	Anibal Madeira (Lisboa Portugal) - See all my reviews

This book clarifies several issues like the fact that the Servian Wall isn't from Servius Tulius age at all, but in fact a 4th century wall. Initially Rome's defenses weren't particularly impressive (the wars were waged far from the metropolis); great improvements were done in the IIIrd century by Aurelianus, significantly heightening the wall and towers. The Aurelian Wall was repaired and improved by Maxentius afterwards. Additionally, with the advent of cannon, the huge walls of Rome didn't offered the former protection (the taller they were, the faster they fell), so forts were constructed with the technic of the "trace itallienne".

This book is a good technical overview of the walls of Rome and it is highly recommended. It also delves in the history of the Visigoth and Vandal attacks, and naturally of the epic defense of the city by Belisarius.

Good illustrations and photographs like osprey usually offers.