Jan 01, 2007 it is a decision that makes his book even more simplistic than it appears at first perusal. Military tactics encompasses the art of organising and employing fighting forces on or near the battlefield. A crucial element in the maintenance and spreading of this military knowhow, along with traditional histories, were the various treatises and practical manuals. Books that cover an esoteric, strategic overview of war. But then theres the slavery and the babies on rubbish heaps. Sears new brunswick, canada rather impressively manages to produce an overview of some 1,200 years of warfare in ancient greece and hellenicinfluenced areas from earliest times through the hellenistic era. Strategy, tactics and campaigns, 950362 bc rusch, dr. Alexander the great this book offers a strategic analysis of one of the most outstanding military careers in history, identifying the most pertinent strategic lessons from the campaigns of alexander the great. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The greek navy functioned much like the ancient greek army did.
They involve the application of four battlefield functions which are closely related kinetic or firepower, mobility, protection or security, and shock action. Erwin rommel wrote several books on military strategy and tactics. Sieges played a central role in many conflicts of the ancient world and generals, including darius, alexander the great, hannibal and scipio africanus successfully used siegecraft to gain their objectives. Hillam signature books, 1990 this is a book of memories about war. The persian expedition by xenophon goodreads share book. So sun zis book is generally published as the art of war in english. Whether it be small frontier skirmishes between neighbouring citystates, lengthy citysieges, civil wars, or. Changes in philosophy and technology have been reflected in changes to military tactics. David lonsdale argues that since the core principles of strategy are eternal. The author first describes the attitude of the greek citystate toward war, and shows the military conventions and strategies associated with it. The most interesting books also examine what life in the military actually involves, and what combat can do to a persons mind. Battle, tactics and trickery by john drogo montagu isbn.
I studied greek army regulations, which were adapted copies of brittish and us army regulations and although i can. Battle tactics of the civil war yale university press. Strategy isnt something thats taught well in school. As siege tactics became integral to success in war, generals employed the minds of engineers and scientists to develop tactics which ranged from penetrating the defences or blockading the. Although writing in his native greek in the second century ad, aelian drew heavily on earlier works, such as asclepiodotus, to put together a comprehensive manual of warfare in the hellenistic. After 600 bc, however, sparta cultivated only the military arts, and the city became an armed camp, established according to the official legend by lycurgus, in reaction to a messenian revolt see messenia. A cultural history, roel konijnendijk presents a new, revisionist interpretation of battle tactics and tactical thought in greece in the 5th and 4th centuries bc. Books about military techniques, tactics, and strategy. Tactics implement strategy by shortterm decisions on the movement of troops and employment of weapons on the field of battle. This is an innovative reassessment of one of the most important early advancements in military tactics, and indispensable reading for anyone interested in ancient warfare the new york military affairs. Military tactics are the science and art of organizing a military force, and the techniques for combining and using weapons and military units to engage and defeat an enemy in battle.
This resource strategically traces greek warfare from 720 to 30 bc and its specific and extensive detailsthe wars, the troops, the armor, the military tactics, and other factors either affecting or affected by the wars. Tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine. This informal history traces battle tactics and military strategy from the time of the citystates phalanxes of spearmen to the farreaching combined operations of specialized land and sea forces in the hellenistic age. It is a decision that makes his book even more simplistic than it appears at first perusal. Art of war is often quoted as a strategytactics book.
Texts about military strategy take us back into the mists of time but what it is, and what the nature of war is, remains hotly debated. Military military index military az ancient weapons and warfare military weapons uniforms firearms siege weapons knives samurai swords fencing crusaders knights templar castles artillery ancient wars history of warfare medieval history boer war crimean war conquistadors the crusades roman wars greek wars egyptian wars napoleonic wars wars of. Derived from the greek word strategos, the term strategy, when it appeared in. At what time, as tactics and strategy change all the times due to new developments. The wars of the ancient greeks by victor davis hanson goodreads. Although it describes both good and bad, overall it portrays war as an arena of horror and tragedy. Popular military strategy books goodreads share book. This is a fascinating little volume, slim but filled with interesting speculation and documentation on roman battle tactics from 109 bc to 3 ad. By necessity, there is much inference about actual tactics, given the difficulty of ascertaining with certainty exactly how the legions fought.
Mnemosyne, supplements history and archaeology of classical antiquity, band 409 brill. The best books on military strategy, as recommended by antulio echevarria, editor of the us army war. What books should i read on ancient battle strategy and tactics. However, you may recognize his name because his writings also include the handbookand discourses of epictetus. Mar 14, 2015 the best military science fiction isnt just a bunch of space battles and cigarchomping armed combat although those are fun. Ancient warfare books ancient world warfare osprey. Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the. Most people agreed that there was something wrong with the versions available in english, but it took time to agree on just. I picked up that strategos is the ancient greek word for general. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Aelians work on tactics is a hugely significant piece of ancient military literature, yet the last new edition in english was published in 1814. This book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their enemies in eastern anatolia, syria and in upper mesopotamia in the tenth century.
The evolution of greek military institutions and tactics. Failure in iraq, debates about freedom, expenses scandals, sex advice the romans seem versions of ourselves. Napoleons advice underlines the recurrent nature of certain military tactics throughout history. Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. He wrote several books on military training, strategy, and tactics, including the order of battle against the alans. The british armys art of attack, published by yale university press. Paddy griffith, formerly a senior lecturer in war studies at the royal military academy at sandhurst, england, is the author of several other books on military subjects, including battle tactics of the western front. You need to get down the basics of how an army on the move operates and thinks. In the persian expedition, xenophon, a young athenian noble who sought his destiny abroad, provides an enthralling eyewitness account of the attempt by a greek mercenary army the ten thousand to help prince cyrus overthrow his brother and take the persian throne. Oct 02, 2015 failure in iraq, debates about freedom, expenses scandals, sex advice the romans seem versions of ourselves. Books on roman strategy and tactics wargames boardgamegeek. Discover book depositorys huge selection of military tactics books online.
Military tactics in ancient greece project gutenberg self. Tactics are a separate function from command and control and logistics. Military strategy and tactics are essential to the conduct of warfare. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. This book appears in its entirety as the first piece in this special leonaur edition. Which are the best books to read on military tactics and. Tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th century edinburgh university press, 2018 georgios theotokis interview.
Warfare in the classical world by john warry is a wonderful book with excellent illustrations describing greek and roman warfare and showing how they employed different weapons and troop types. Antulio echevarria ii of the us army war college talks us through key books, both old and new, on military strategy. Battles, tactics and trickery is a uniquely detailed work which explores the tactics and battle strategies of the graecoroman period. This incisive study goes beyond the arms and armour to reveal the psychology behind historys most emblematic battles. The psychological cost of learning to kill on war and society ltc dave. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The empire therefore maintained its highly sophisticated military system from antiquity, which relied on discipline, training, knowledge of tactics and a wellorganized support system. There are a myriad of books that you can read about warfare, battles and strategy. What are some good books about great military generals and their war tactics.
Greek coins and statues are found as far east as afghanistan. Dec 27, 2018 tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th century edinburgh university press, 2018 georgios theotokis interview. Popular ancient warfare books goodreads share book. List of books and articles about ancient sparta online. However, at first sight of enemy ships, the greek navy would turn to starboard or port to form its line for battle. In a new book, three academics, including writer and lecturer rob johnson, have selected the 25. This is unfortunate, because strategy is something that is critically relevant to. The persian and peloponnesian wars by the 6th cent. About the ancient sources tacitus is sometime good livy is a bit too light on military details and remember those are not history book in modern sense, they are political tool provided for initiated people who had a baisc understanding of tactics and standard operation procedures.
Read how warfare evolved during the centuries in ancient greece from rudimentary, nonsophisticated strategies and weaponry to more complex arsenals and tactics. Which are the best books to read on military tactics and war. Along with the other wwii books mentioned here and below, i recommend ken burns documentary the war, if only because it is largely based on these books and gives you a sense of the whole picture. Ancient warfare books ancient world warfare osprey publishing. I have some russian books 40s, 50s in czech of course, and one polish old book from 50s, and some czech books 60s to 80s which are derived from russian authors, letters of marxengeles about ancient warfare included. Warfare in the classical world by john warry is a wonderful book with excellent illustrations describing greek and roman warfare and showing how they employed. The best books on military strategy five books expert. Broadly stated, strategy is the planning, coordination, and general direction of military operations to meet overall political and military objectives.
The author of several previous books including alexander. Books and ebooks about warfare in the ancient world, examining the equipment, uniforms, training and tactics of soldiers and warriors on the battlefield, from the spartans of. Oct 18, 2011 discover book depositorys huge selection of military tactics books online. Need another excuse to treat yourself to new book this week. The greek traced his military knowledge back to homer, whom he. In open sea, the greek navy would sail in an upside down ship formation, led by the commanders ship. Books about military techniques, tactics, and strategy self. This book is the basis for the hbo miniseries the pacific. Some practices have not changed since the dawn of warfare.
Are you interested in russian school for ancient military history. Leiden since the 1990s, there has been intense debate about early greek warfare. Mar 27, 2018 in the ancient greek world, warfare was seen as a necessary evil of the human condition. Alexander the great book by philip freeman official. Discover the weapons that they used, the fortifications that protected them and. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy and tactics, from hannibal to napoleon, with countless more in between. Ten of the greatest battlefield tactics, by rob johnson. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. They answer the questions of how best to deploy and employ forces on a small scale. The work is readable, follows the mainstream interpretations, but adds very little to our knowledge or to the debate on greek and roman warfare.
Wrightson south dakota state gives us a summary of the evolution of greek warfare from the bronze age through the height of the wars of the successors, during which equipment and tactics evolved from those of the homeric epic the hoplite era, to the phalanx, and then the development of combined arms that characterized the armies. The ancient greekswho believed war was the most im. The final snippet of atlantis on the shores of forever before publishing. Hell, most people probably couldnt tell you the difference between strategy and tactics or even know there is a difference. An extremely strong book analyzing the development and execution of military strategy and tactics in the athenian and spartan cultures. Through a systematic examination of every major conflict throughout human history, liddell hart attempts to show that all major victories are achieved through use of what he terms the indirect approach, and conversely, that every loss is due to the errors of a direct approach. Military tactics in ancient greece project gutenberg. This is a work on military tactics from an american civil. Ancient greek warfare ancient history encyclopedia.
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