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Alexander the Great versus Julius Caesar
In the annals of ancient history the lights of Alexander the Great and Gaius Julius Caesar shine brighter than any other, inspiring generations of dynasts and despots with their imperial exploits. Each has been termed the greatest military leader of the ancient world, but who actually was the best? In this new book Dr Simon Elliott first establishes a set of criteria by which to judge the strategic and tactical genius of both. He then considers both in turn in brand-new, up-to-date military biographies, starting with Alexander, undefeated in battle and conqueror of the largest empire the world had seen by the age of 26. Next Caesar, the man who played the crucial role in expanding Roman territory to the size which would later emerge as the Empire under his great nephew, adopted son and heir Augustus. The book’s detailed conclusion sets each of their military careers against the criteria set out earlier to finally answer the question: who was the greatest military leader in the ancient world?
272 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 23, 2022
In his new book, Alexander the Great versus Julius Caesar, Dr Simon Elliott writes an incredibly detailed analysis of both men and compares them side-by-side, to decide who was the greatest military commander of the ancient world. The author does this by exploring their beginnings, families and the world they came from and how it shaped and defined their lives. Their military campaigns, tactics, weapons, and battles, achievements and failures. Alexander and Caesar are given 4 chapters each, followed by a conclusion where the author tells us who he thinks is the greatest military commander of the ancient world.
Alexander the Great is often referenced as being the greatest conqueror and military leader in world history, he conquered much of his known world in just eleven years. And Gaius Julius Caesar, the man who rose to great heights and then had the biggest of falls. Described as the greatest figure to emerge from the Roman Republic, he played a crucial role in expanding Roman territory. From a young age, both men were confident that they were destined for great things. Although their rises to the top were very different, they both had incredible achievements. The author tells us at the very start of his book that he has had a lifelong fascination with Alexander; however, his book is totally unbiased and the chapters about Julius Caesar are approached in exactly the same way as Alexander’s.
I enjoyed learning about two men that I knew very little about. There was so much information to dive into, it is a very in-depth and thorough book. Although complex, Simon has made it a very accessible and highly enjoyable read. If you don’t know much about the subject matter, this book provides a great introduction, it is so well written and researched. I won’t spoil the conclusion that Dr Simon Elliott comes too at the end of the book, but from the comparisons provided by the author, I agree with who he has chosen as the greatest commander of the ancient world! I highly recommend Alexander the Great Versus Julius Caesar.
* I was kindly gifted this book by Pen & Sword Books, in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander the Great is often referenced as being the greatest conqueror and military leader in world history, he conquered much of his known world in just eleven years. And Gaius Julius Caesar, the man who rose to great heights and then had the biggest of falls. Described as the greatest figure to emerge from the Roman Republic, he played a crucial role in expanding Roman territory. From a young age, both men were confident that they were destined for great things. Although their rises to the top were very different, they both had incredible achievements. The author tells us at the very start of his book that he has had a lifelong fascination with Alexander; however, his book is totally unbiased and the chapters about Julius Caesar are approached in exactly the same way as Alexander’s.
I enjoyed learning about two men that I knew very little about. There was so much information to dive into, it is a very in-depth and thorough book. Although complex, Simon has made it a very accessible and highly enjoyable read. If you don’t know much about the subject matter, this book provides a great introduction, it is so well written and researched. I won’t spoil the conclusion that Dr Simon Elliott comes too at the end of the book, but from the comparisons provided by the author, I agree with who he has chosen as the greatest commander of the ancient world! I highly recommend Alexander the Great Versus Julius Caesar.
* I was kindly gifted this book by Pen & Sword Books, in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2022
These are two men I knew about vaguely, all the myths and legends and very little of the facts. And this book certainly took me deep into the intricacies of their military campaigns. It debunked a few of those myths I thought I knew, setting the record straight, and quite honestly making this pair a whole lot more engaging.
From the word go, I liked this book. Even before I got to the introduction, I loved the dedication. From it, I thought I might just have an inclination of which way the competition would go! The honesty of the author made the book very accessible, as he listed the fellow possible challengers for the title and why he had chosen these two.
There are a lot of Greek and Latin terms as you would expect, all italicised and well explained, and the attention to detail is excellent. This is a writer who knows his stuff! It's not a stuffy book, though. It's written in a way which made me feel as though I was listening to someone talking - a real skill in nonfiction! As you know, research is one of my favourite things about writing, and I'm looking forward to putting some of this new research into a story.
The layout worked well, looking first at one and then the other before drawing the comparison the title demanded. I feel like Elliott's pre-existing in-depth knowledge of the Roman side of the argument, compared to his admitted hero-worship of Alexander, led to a slightly different approach in the presentation of facts between the two, with Alexander's portion taking up the greater part of the book. This isn't a criticism, though, as it felt right to have these two men portrayed as the individuals they were and represented in an individual style.
The one thing I felt was an unfortunate omission was the lack of any maps. This was especially difficult with the explanation of the poleis states. Throughout the book, I continued to root out my own maps so I could be sure where we were. But I was invested enough in the narrative to make it worth my while hunting out the geography and - to me - it was not enough for the book to lose a star.
I did agree with the overall verdict, though not entirely for the same reasons as the author picked. But, as far as I can see, that just means the winner is definitely...
Nope - no spoilers here!
This is a competition of the highest calibre, written in a very accessible style. If ancient military history is your thing, you should read this book. No prior knowledge required, just an interest in the topic.
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review - which this absolutely is!
From the word go, I liked this book. Even before I got to the introduction, I loved the dedication. From it, I thought I might just have an inclination of which way the competition would go! The honesty of the author made the book very accessible, as he listed the fellow possible challengers for the title and why he had chosen these two.
There are a lot of Greek and Latin terms as you would expect, all italicised and well explained, and the attention to detail is excellent. This is a writer who knows his stuff! It's not a stuffy book, though. It's written in a way which made me feel as though I was listening to someone talking - a real skill in nonfiction! As you know, research is one of my favourite things about writing, and I'm looking forward to putting some of this new research into a story.
The layout worked well, looking first at one and then the other before drawing the comparison the title demanded. I feel like Elliott's pre-existing in-depth knowledge of the Roman side of the argument, compared to his admitted hero-worship of Alexander, led to a slightly different approach in the presentation of facts between the two, with Alexander's portion taking up the greater part of the book. This isn't a criticism, though, as it felt right to have these two men portrayed as the individuals they were and represented in an individual style.
The one thing I felt was an unfortunate omission was the lack of any maps. This was especially difficult with the explanation of the poleis states. Throughout the book, I continued to root out my own maps so I could be sure where we were. But I was invested enough in the narrative to make it worth my while hunting out the geography and - to me - it was not enough for the book to lose a star.
I did agree with the overall verdict, though not entirely for the same reasons as the author picked. But, as far as I can see, that just means the winner is definitely...
Nope - no spoilers here!
This is a competition of the highest calibre, written in a very accessible style. If ancient military history is your thing, you should read this book. No prior knowledge required, just an interest in the topic.
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review - which this absolutely is!
February 25, 2022
Factual history books are mostly way outside my usual genre but this one peaked my interest due to having loved Classical Studies at school and we did an awful on Julius Caesar. I didn’t know quite as much about Alexander The Great so here was my chance to learn. Boy did I learn! I was a little concerned that the book might be all stuffy and highbrow full of facts that couldn’t be taken in but no so, Simon Elliot writes in a style that really makes you want to learn more about these two characters. I read the book much more quickly that I thought I would. The level of research that has gone into this book is astounding, it is a veritable smorgasbord of facts and History from the the time period. the photography is beautiful and the artefacts contained within the photos create a fabulous picture in your minds eye about the era and the lives they lived.
The chapters are written separately on Alexander and his wars and Caesar and his escapades. This actually helps to be able to dip in and out of each of these great Generals of the Ancient world. Picking up interesting nuggets as you go. I think my husband is getting a bit fed up with me saying ” oh now that ‘s interesting, Did you know…?”
The final chapter is Simon’s conclusion on who he really believes was the greatest General of the time. I am not going to spoiling the answer to that. I definitely enjoyed this History of The greatest Generals of the Ancient Times and I would highly recommend to any history buffs or those studying this era. Its a fantastic book and I will be sharing my copy far and wide.
The chapters are written separately on Alexander and his wars and Caesar and his escapades. This actually helps to be able to dip in and out of each of these great Generals of the Ancient world. Picking up interesting nuggets as you go. I think my husband is getting a bit fed up with me saying ” oh now that ‘s interesting, Did you know…?”
The final chapter is Simon’s conclusion on who he really believes was the greatest General of the time. I am not going to spoiling the answer to that. I definitely enjoyed this History of The greatest Generals of the Ancient Times and I would highly recommend to any history buffs or those studying this era. Its a fantastic book and I will be sharing my copy far and wide.
October 28, 2021
NB: free copy received for an honest review
This book pretty much does what it says on the tin: compares the careers and capabilities of two of the most famous military commanders of the ancient world.
And it does that very well. First the author provides extensive data on the world into which each man was born and their lives and achievements, including an analysis of some of their most famous victories. Parts of this can get a little dry, but there are also some very interesting pieces of information. I particularly enjoyed some of the insights into how the physics of phalanx warfare actually worked.
With this background in place, they compare the two men on seven criteria - explaining both why they chose those criteria and how Alexander and Caesar compare - before making their final judgement. I won't spoil which man gets the nod - that's the whole point of reading this, after all!
Recommended if you have an interest in ancient history.
This book pretty much does what it says on the tin: compares the careers and capabilities of two of the most famous military commanders of the ancient world.
And it does that very well. First the author provides extensive data on the world into which each man was born and their lives and achievements, including an analysis of some of their most famous victories. Parts of this can get a little dry, but there are also some very interesting pieces of information. I particularly enjoyed some of the insights into how the physics of phalanx warfare actually worked.
With this background in place, they compare the two men on seven criteria - explaining both why they chose those criteria and how Alexander and Caesar compare - before making their final judgement. I won't spoil which man gets the nod - that's the whole point of reading this, after all!
Recommended if you have an interest in ancient history.
November 24, 2021
A fantastic read for those readers who enjoy military history. The author has successfully written a detailed comparison of two of the greatest historical military leaders. I really enjoyed learning about their early lives and the underlying inspirations to build empires and subjugate the inhabitants of distant lands.
Comprehensive overviews are given of the major battles that each of the protagonists fought. Similarly, detailed facts are provided on the weapon systems and armour that were used by each side during the respective campaigns. The book could be improved slightly if illustrations were provided. of the battle plans, tactics, and the types of weapons used by the troops. I read the Kindle version and am not sure if the hard copy book provides illustrations.
I won't write a plot spoiler naming who the best general was judged to be, other than to say I agree with the author's choice!
Comprehensive overviews are given of the major battles that each of the protagonists fought. Similarly, detailed facts are provided on the weapon systems and armour that were used by each side during the respective campaigns. The book could be improved slightly if illustrations were provided. of the battle plans, tactics, and the types of weapons used by the troops. I read the Kindle version and am not sure if the hard copy book provides illustrations.
I won't write a plot spoiler naming who the best general was judged to be, other than to say I agree with the author's choice!
November 29, 2021
It was an interesting read and I think it will surely be appreciated by those interested in military history.
It compares life, historical times and military plans of the two generals and it makes it in a fascinating way.
I am not an expert to say if the chosen one was the best one but I enjoyed this book.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It compares life, historical times and military plans of the two generals and it makes it in a fascinating way.
I am not an expert to say if the chosen one was the best one but I enjoyed this book.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 16, 2023
Very good analyses overall, as is expected from Dr Elliott! However, while reading I noticed a significant number of typos and small grammatical mistakes that were overlooked by the editor and proof reader. However, I feel this is an issue from the publishers side and not Dr Elliott.
July 15, 2022
I would rate this book higher if it had more maps of terrain or of battlefield deployments in it, which would greatly enhance the book, which is otherwise really good!
July 10, 2023
Could seriously do with an editor. Over elaborate on some points while brushing over others, poor grammar and going off on random tangents. I shouldn’t have expected much from a 250 page book that claims to compare two of histories greatest military rulers
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews