From Sumer to Rome: The Military Capabilities of Ancient Armies

by Richard A. Gabriel, Karen S. Metz

This in-depth work demonstrates that ancient battles rivaled those of the modern period in size, complexity, and lethality. The organization of armies of the ancient world, their performance, their military operations, and their ability to raise the art of warfare to towering heights are the focus of this carefully documented volume. An examination is made of all the major military establishments of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Pertinent evidence is gathered from a number of disciplines and integrated into a coherent whole. Corroborative evidence is drawn from modern analysis when accepting or rejecting the claims of ancient writers. Where that was lacking, the authors conducted empirical studies of ancient weapons, which led to a better understanding of how ancient battles were really fought. The book concludes with description and analysis of the armies of the ancient world placed in a modern perspective.

From Sumer to Rome provides a detailed portrait of the world's earliest military establishments. A number of military innovations and developments that came to fruition in the Iron Age and that remained are traced. An empirical analysis of all the major weapons of the ancient armies is made. The factors that played dominant roles in outcomes are explored and thorough analysis of military medical care systems is provided. This book will be an excellent addition to the libraries of military historians, students of ancient warfare and weaponry, and the general reader.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Military History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1991

Reviews

[Riq Hoelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vigorously asserts the old commonplace that chariots were used as shock forces, much like 20th century tanks. However, experts in the field conclude that their main role was as fast vehicles for the delivery of arrows and secondarily as pursuers of fleeing infantry. Neither use is an example of shock. This apparent uncritical reading of the sources perhaps reflects the danger inherent in neither author being a professional historian of the period.

[Jim Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book and its interesting analysis of ancient armies' capabilities.

Its conclusions are certainly based on some assumptions, but their in-depth analysis of things like arrow penetrating power, armor thickness, etc. was fascinating.

If you're interested in how the capabilities of ancient armies matched up, you MUST read this book.

[Kaelen Kinnaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely readable and lucid writing on the ancient world. One is left very impressed with what people from 4000 BC to 100 AD were capable of. There's a lot of small, intriguing details present - Gabriel's expertise is outstanding.