Adrian Goldsworthy

Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Complete Roman Army. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2003.

"The Roman army was one of the most successful fighting forces in history. Its organization and tactics were highly advanced and were unequaled until the modern era. Spectacular monuments to its perseverance and engineering skill are still visible today, most notably Hadrian's Wall and the siegeworks around the fortress of Masada.

This book is the first to examine in detail not just the early imperial army, but the citizen's militia of the Republic and the army of the later Empire. The unprecedented scope and longevity of Roman military success is placed in the context of ordinary soldiers' daily lives, whether spent in the quiet routine of a peaceful garrison or in arduous campaign and violent combat.

"The Republican Army" considers the earliest armies, offensive and defensive equipment, the creation of the Roman navy and the militia army that conquered the Mediterranean.

"The Professional Army" describes the reforms under Marius and his successors and the creation of the new legionary structure.

"The Life of a Roman Soldier" looks in detail at all aspects, from recruitment and daily routine - barracks life, training, parades, diet, discipline, medical care to equipment and off-duty life.

"The Army at War" reveals how the army operated, from grand tactics to hand-to-hand combat and siege warfare.

"The Army of Late Antiquity" examines the reorganization after the defeats of the third century and the bitter struggle to maintain the Empire in the fourth century.

Impressive in scope and written for a general audience, the book draws on archaeology, ancient art and original documentary sources to present the most convincing picture ever published of the Roman army. "