Cassell, 2002, $14.95, ISBN 0-304-36265-4, 240 pgs., paperback

If you haven’t guessed by now, I rather enjoy these Cassell History of Warfare paperback editions of oversize hardbacks. This one was originally published in 2000, with the paperback in 2002.

Each book presents a short, concise analysis of military history by relatively well-known academics in 240 pages. For $15, it’s a great introduction to a period, with enough graphics and photo images to illustrate particular points. I may quibble here and there, and occasionally take a particular author to task about something or another, but overall, these are fine recountings of a historical period.

Roman Warfare continues the tradition. It covers much ground, from 753 BC to roughly 500 AD, following the establishment of Rome by force of arms and its eventual rise and fall of the Republic and Empire.

It’s all neatly portrayed, follows the formation and transformation of the Legion and various other arms, highlights some notable battles, and examines the reasons behind success and failure. There’s a neat summation of the differences between limitanei (border troops) and comitatenses (field army) that’s as good as you find in entire books devoted to the subject.

All told, Roman Warfare is another winner.

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