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Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World (3000 B.C. to 500 A.D.): Equipment, Combat Skills and Tactics
Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World describes the fighting techniques of soldiers in Europe and the Middle East in an age before gunpowder. The book explores the unique tactics required to win battles with the technology available, and points out how little has changed in some respects in the art of war. Using specially commissioned color and black-and-white artworks to illustrate the battles, equipment and tactics of the era, Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World shows in detail the methods by which armies, including Assyrians and Roman forces, prevailed over their foes, and why other armies were far less successful. The book is an essential companion for any reader in warfare in the classical age.REVIEWS "Excellent essays complemented by illuminating illustrations make this book a bargain for anyone interested in ancient warfare....Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World brilliantly manages to walk a tightrope between being both comprehensive and concise. It merits a place on the bookshelves of anyone interested in military history as well as hobbyists seeking inspirations for toy soldier displays, model figure painting, diorama building or wargaming." Toy Soldier and Model Figure Magazine
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 4, 2013
This did have a tendency to be a bit complex with all the technical terms and troop numbers but the vivid descriptions of battles,commanders,paintings and drawings kept me reading.The book is divided into sections of infantry,mounted warfare,command and control,siege and navel.Each chapter contains examples of military leaders,battle plans,weapons,armour and siegecraft as well as battle animals.With most everything above being discussed in great detail.I will most likely be using this as a reference for further reading as it happens to be one of the better books I have read on ancient battle.
February 4, 2019
Σπουδαίο ιστορικό έργο με την καταπληκτική επιμέλεια του Υποστράτηγου ε.α. κύριου Δημήτριου Γεδεών, ο οποίος χειρίζεται την ελληνική γλώσσα με μαεστρία. Αν αγάπας τα ιστορικά στρατιωτικά γεγονότα, τότε το βιβλίο αυτό, σίγουρα δεν πρέπει να λείπει από τα ράφια σου!
December 13, 2019
Are you looking for a book on military history and military techniques during ancient times? This book might be for you! Written by a team of experts on military matters with academic and published credentials this book is quite informative and engaging concerning military matters of equipping, tactics and combat skills for warfare. The work covers largely Europe and the Middle East before the advent of gunpowder. While the subtitle of the book states it looks at 3000 BC-500 AD most of the book concentrates on the Greek and Roman classical period.
The book consists of five chapters. Chapter one looks at the role of infantry while chapter two is on mounted warfare. Chapter three is on command and control followed by the next chapter on siege warfare and chapter five focuses on naval warfare.
There’s so much that’s covered in each of these chapters! The first chapter’s look at the role of the infantry and talks about the differences between light and heavy infantry and the weapons, tactics, formations for each respective kind of infantry. In chapter two’s discussion about mounted warfare the book discusses about the use and types of chariots and different kinds of animals that have used over time: donkeys, horses, camels and elephants. Each chapter looks at many examples of a battle in ancient time and there’s even maps and graphics showing the maneuver used by the warring factions.
I found the book helpful in understanding more of how combat was waged in the past. Some of the new things I learned from the book include how Calvary was a later development after the use of chariots. One would naturally think soldiers on horseback came first before the use of chariots but the book made chariots in the beginning first used donkeys and mules and horses was domesticated much later and riding on horse back and engaging in combat is not an easy task. In addition horses didn’t have its size until much later as the result of careful breeding. I also learn in the book of how the Roman military was the one who perfected siege warfare during Ancient time, having learned it from the Greeks and improving on their methods whenever possible. There’s so much more of what I learn and I’m sure most general readers will learn a lot from this book as well. I recommend this.
If there’s one thing I have as criticism is that the chapter on siege warfare went beyond the authors’ scope and expertise when it said some Bible scholars doubt the story of Jericho. I think that’s unfortunate the author just merely asserted this without much further fruitful discussion.
The book consists of five chapters. Chapter one looks at the role of infantry while chapter two is on mounted warfare. Chapter three is on command and control followed by the next chapter on siege warfare and chapter five focuses on naval warfare.
There’s so much that’s covered in each of these chapters! The first chapter’s look at the role of the infantry and talks about the differences between light and heavy infantry and the weapons, tactics, formations for each respective kind of infantry. In chapter two’s discussion about mounted warfare the book discusses about the use and types of chariots and different kinds of animals that have used over time: donkeys, horses, camels and elephants. Each chapter looks at many examples of a battle in ancient time and there’s even maps and graphics showing the maneuver used by the warring factions.
I found the book helpful in understanding more of how combat was waged in the past. Some of the new things I learned from the book include how Calvary was a later development after the use of chariots. One would naturally think soldiers on horseback came first before the use of chariots but the book made chariots in the beginning first used donkeys and mules and horses was domesticated much later and riding on horse back and engaging in combat is not an easy task. In addition horses didn’t have its size until much later as the result of careful breeding. I also learn in the book of how the Roman military was the one who perfected siege warfare during Ancient time, having learned it from the Greeks and improving on their methods whenever possible. There’s so much more of what I learn and I’m sure most general readers will learn a lot from this book as well. I recommend this.
If there’s one thing I have as criticism is that the chapter on siege warfare went beyond the authors’ scope and expertise when it said some Bible scholars doubt the story of Jericho. I think that’s unfortunate the author just merely asserted this without much further fruitful discussion.
October 10, 2026
This book throughly covers the tactics and skills and equipment used in war in the middle east and by Rome and Greece. There are lots of drawings of the equipment, people, and battles. For what it does cover, it covers well. Unfortunately, China doesn't seem to exist during this time period (I assume since it isn't mentioned even once), since it isn't covered. Nor were there any people in the Americas. And Africa was completely depopulated, except for Egypt.
April 13, 2009
This is an excellent general work for those interested in ancient warfare in the western world (Ancient Egypt and Fertile Crescent, and Greece, Macedonia, Rome and Carthage). It is organized thematically, with chapters on Infantry, Cavalry, Siege, Naval and (one of my favorites) Command & Control (including communications and troop organization in the field); each chapter then proceeds chronologically, with detailed treatment (including illustrations and strategic maps) of specific battles which the author feels illustrate important military developments and/or concepts.
What stands out about this book is actually the strength of its quasi-anecdotal approach to military history. The book is very specific about particular engagements and sticks close to the sources when possible, leaving out a lot of the history in between. Despite this, there are some unique insights and details to be found here that I haven't found in other military-historical reading for this period. A thematic chapter I would've loved to have seen, however, would've been one on developments in military levies (the organization and training of the military at home).
This is a book that I leave accessible in my living room for browsing and looking up facts my brain has mislaid. If you want a thorough account of strategic and political history, you'll have to go elsewhere: Warry's _Warfare in the Classical World_ , which fills in a lot of the history between emblematic and important confrontations in the field, for instance, makes an excellent companion piece to this volume.
What stands out about this book is actually the strength of its quasi-anecdotal approach to military history. The book is very specific about particular engagements and sticks close to the sources when possible, leaving out a lot of the history in between. Despite this, there are some unique insights and details to be found here that I haven't found in other military-historical reading for this period. A thematic chapter I would've loved to have seen, however, would've been one on developments in military levies (the organization and training of the military at home).
This is a book that I leave accessible in my living room for browsing and looking up facts my brain has mislaid. If you want a thorough account of strategic and political history, you'll have to go elsewhere: Warry's _Warfare in the Classical World_ , which fills in a lot of the history between emblematic and important confrontations in the field, for instance, makes an excellent companion piece to this volume.
June 28, 2009
This book throughly covers the tactics and skills and equipment used in war in the middle east and by Rome and Greece. There are lots of drawings of the equipment, people, and battles. For what it does cover, it covers well. Unfortunately, China doesn't seem to exist during this time period (I assume since it isn't mentioned even once), since it isn't covered. Nor were there any people in the Americas. And Africa was completely depopulated, except for Egypt.
April 11, 2012
I felt a bit guilty reading what is essentially a picture book. The content was solid, however, and the discussion mature. The overall impression was quite good. My only complaint is that the choice of battles for full-colour illustration was not always the best. Seeing two ships lined up in what was described in the text as largely individual fighting did not do much to improve my understandings and felt too much like a gimmick.
April 17, 2013
This book was much more useful for understanding why a particular group fought the way they did. Perhaps because it's the very beginning of what we know, so it had to be explained more. I did think that the battle maps were far less useful and interesting though. Also why did I have to read about Actium in such detail twice?
October 6, 2013
Didn't learn as much as I hoped to learn. It seems there's a lot they really don't know about ancient combat and they're just talking around it. The "tactical maps" of the battles are often ridiculously simple and completely uninformative. The information about equipment is good though, as are the drawings; I was just more interested in the tactics.
May 7, 2013
Very simple overview of the fighting styles of the ancient world. Lavishly illustrated the battle scene paintings are great. Neat in the fact that it includes very early periods with references to Assyrian/Egyptian/Hittite period sources for battles like Qadesh and others.
February 19, 2013
This is a really cool book, especially if you don't follow military tactics. Lots of pictures of the armor and weapons used at the time. It even includes maps with case studies of various battles.
May 12, 2022
Muy bueno
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews