Posts: 109
Threads: 28
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation:
0
Hello,
I am going to have alot of free reading time over the upcoming summer and I am making an appeal to the RAT community. What are some good reads on the topic of roman military history? I am currently reading Ceasar's Gallic Wars and am looking for my next book. Suggestions would be appreciated. And I know that on various forums you have all listed good books but I would request a more centarlized thread. Please don't hurt me...
Thank You
~~Gavin Nugent~~
Who told you to die! Keep fighting!
If anyone knows of anything in Long Island, New York please tell me.
Posts: 1,779
Threads: 187
Joined: Jul 2003
Reputation:
0
Indeed, many great books have been listed all over the forum, and it will be interesting to see what everyone has to recommend.
May I offer two suggestions:
Apocalypse: The Great Jewish Revolt Against Rome
by Neil Faulkner
Faulkner is a "socialist" historian and spends time looking at the economic causes of the rebellion and draws upon sources beyond Josephus (Dead Sea Scrolls, digs at Masada and other sites, etc.). I find many of his points to be well taken and his battle narritives interesting. Over all a well written book.
The Assassination Of Julius Caesar
by Michael Parenti
While not a 'military history' strictly speaking this book is, never the less, worth reading.
Parenti believes that our view of Caesar and the so called common people has been distorted by the "Gentlemen Historians" (both ancient and modern) who have had a vested interest in presenting Brutus and the Senate as the selfless protectors of the Republic. Parenti sees Caesar as the true champion of those rights against the pervasive greed of the elite members of the Senate.
This is not a new idea, this view of Caesar, but Parenti presents convincing arguments in support of this view of Caesar, and of the people as something more than just a shiftless mob interested only in "bread and circuses."
No doubt there will be many other excellent suggestions made by the members here, but these are two that I highly recommend.
They kept me awake on the 5am train to work -- no mean feat I assure you. :wink:
Narukami
David Reinke
Burbank CA
Posts: 109
Threads: 28
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation:
0
Thanks guys! And Titus thanks for the link to the list.
~~Gavin Nugent~~
Who told you to die! Keep fighting!
If anyone knows of anything in Long Island, New York please tell me.
Posts: 326
Threads: 7
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
0
If you liked that, you'll like this...!
If you did enjoy the Gallic Wars, why not try...
Caesar's Civil War, which in the Penguin edition comes with the Alexandrian, African and Spanish wars, further narratives of the civil wars between Caesar and the Pompeians, probably written by one of Caesar's officers.
Sallust's Jugurthine War
Appian, The Civil Wars.
I recommended these because you can't beat original sources, and they're all easily available in paperback; you can find loads more Appian at Bill Thayer's excellent Lacus Curtius web-site.
Lucky you to have lots of reading time over the summer - I envy you!
Kate
Posts: 403
Threads: 9
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation:
0
Not to forget Flavius Josephus "bello judaicum"
Also real nice: Sallustius conspiracy of Catilina
An evergreen: Livius "ab urbe condita" to the2nd punic war (from Book XXIII
Same Theme at Polybios.
All real nice to read sources about roman warfare.
real Name Tobias Gabrys
Flavii <a class="postlink" href="http://www.flavii.de">www.flavii.de
& Hetairoi <a class="postlink" href="http://www.hetairoi.de">www.hetairoi.de
Posts: 109
Threads: 28
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation:
0
I just finished Caesar's Gallic Wars and I ran to the library, quite literally, in the puoring rain. So when I got there there they didn't have Caesar's Civil War, so I hauled myself four miles to the other library that had it. I really hope Caesar's Civil War is worth it.
~~Gavin Nugent~~
Who told you to die! Keep fighting!
If anyone knows of anything in Long Island, New York please tell me.
Posts: 95
Threads: 7
Joined: Nov 2005
Reputation:
0
Also add Simon Scarrows books for a bit of light relief! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Timeo Danaos et Dona ferentes
Andy.(Titus Scapula Clavicularis)
Posts: 8,090
Threads: 505
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
The Long Year A.D.69, by Kenneth Wellesley.
ISBN 0 236 40001 0
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
//www.forumromanum.org/literature/authors_a.html:e75lse21]check this excellent website[/url] with many books both in latin and english. 
