Category: Roman Empire
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The Emperor and the Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 235 (1996) by J.B. Campbell
J. B. Campbell’s The Emperor and the Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 235 remains one of the most important modern studies of the Roman imperial military system and its relationship to political authority. Published in 1996, the book is not merely a work of military history in the traditional sense – focused on battles, tactics, or…
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The Imperial Roman Army (1969) by Graham Webster
First published in 1969, Graham Webster’s The Imperial Roman Army was one of the first modern accounts of the Roman military, charting its evolution from the Republican period through to the Empire at its height. Webster’s work has long stood as a staple introduction for students and enthusiasts alike, praised for its clarity and archaeological…
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The Imperial Roman Army (1989) by Yann Le Bohec
Yann Le Bohec’s “The Imperial Roman Army” (1989) is a sweeping, detailed, and authoritative account of the Roman military during the Empire’s most formative and enduring centuries. Originally published in French and translated into English in 1994, the book quickly became a cornerstone of Roman military studies. Rather than focusing solely on battlefield exploits or…
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The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire (1984) by Lawrence Keppie
Lawrence Keppie’s “The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire” (1984) is an informed, well-structured study of one of the most formidable and influential military institutions in world history. From the rudimentary levy-based militias of early Rome to the professionalized, standing legions of the imperial era, Keppie traces the evolution of the Roman…
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The Climax of Rome (1968) by Michael Grant
Michael Grant is a remarkably prolific and engaging historian of the ancient world, known for his ability to write clearly and forcefully, making complex historical periods accessible to a broad audience. In The Climax of Rome, Grant offers a vivid and comprehensive account of the Roman Empire during the tumultuous third century AD—a period often…
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The Fall of the Roman Empire (1976) by Michael Grant
Michael Grant may not be the most revered classical scholar of the late twentieth century, but he just may be the most prolific. Mr. Grant published on an astonishing scale, especially for a man who spent most of his adult life in the diplomatic service of his country, Great Britain. This piece, underscoring the many…
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Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor (2006) by Anthony Everitt
The trouble with Anthony Everitt is that he makes reading books on ancient history by other qualified, contemporary authors seem so, well, dry and ancient. He possesses a unique ability to put figures like Cicero and Octavian into situations and terms that are remarkably relatable to typical twenty-first century westerners. Long dead aristocrats from a…
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The Roman Army at War 100 BC-AD 200 (1996) by Adrian Goldsworthy
Adrian Keith Goldsworthy has quickly emerged as one of the most distinguished and prolific young classical scholars. This monograph, an adaptation of his doctoral dissertation from Oxford, is detailed and academic, but surprisingly fluid and accessible. Goldsworthy asserts that the best way to study an army is first to review its performance at its intended…
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Fall of the Roman Empire: The Military Explanation (1988) by Arther Ferrill
I worked with the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment in the 1990s. For all the fuss made back then about an emerging Revolution in Military Affairs – long range precision strike capabilities and information dominance – many of us believed that the truly important core competence of the US armed forces was (and would remain)…
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