This volume pairs scholars of various subfields to expose through comparison six themes in ancient warfare scholarship. Armstrong’s introduction positions the volume to showcase via case studies developing approaches to warfare. The first essays address “Narratives of War.” Anthony Spalinger makes neglected connection between inscriptional and pictorial war narratives in empire-period Egypt, demonstrating a “parallelism of narrative techniques” (13). David Nolan then shows how centurions function as military exempla in Caesar’s Bellum Gallicum: Caesar thought they should engage in hand to hand combat only as a last, legionpreserving resort, and that their commitment to order/stability was integral to that of the legions. Matthew Trundle’s essay, the first on “The Economics of Warfare,” shows that the Athenian empire was essentially economic, driven by silver coinage movement among its allies. Nathan Rosenstein’s following article demonstrates via estimated demographic statistics and...

This thesis studies the evidence related to warfare and warriors in the Early Iron Age of Greece, from the eleventh to the early seventh century B.C.E. It argues that “warrior” identity, as expressed through burial with weapons or depictions of armed men and combat in pictorial painting and literature, is connected to violent action in order to create, maintain, and reinforce the relationship between authority and violent action. The forms that this violent action took were variable, from interregional conflict to overseas raids. This is outlined in Chapter 1, which is followed by two chapters summarizing the palatial (Chapter 2) and postpalatial (Chapter 3) background to the Early Iron Age. Chapters 4 to 7 present the evidence. In order to provide a more thorough analysis the focus is limited to the regions of Attica, central Euboea, the Argolid, and Knossos. The study of warfare in this period has been dominated by the study of weapons; in this thesis the approach focuses on the contexts in which these weapons are found, burials (Chapter 4), sanctuaries (Chapter 5), and occasionally settlements (Chapter 6). In these chapters the particular treatment and emphasis on weapons and armour is considered based on an understanding of these contexts in the period. In Chapter 7, representations and the treatment of warriors and warfare in Early Iron Age pictorial pottery is considered, as is briefly the literary evidence from the end of this period, which form the means by which contemporary people came to understand warfare. Chapter 8 discusses the evidence, while Chapter 9 summarizes the conclusions. This thesis shows that while warrior identity and the practice of war are closely related, in these areas of Early Iron Age Greece there are variations in the identification of men as warriors and in the intensity with which war is fought. Throughout the period, these regions express warrior identity in broadly similar ways, but with variations in duration, accessibility, and meaning. The eighth century is particularly a period of change with the intensification of warfare manifest in the destruction of settlements, but these changes are not restricted to this century, and are in many ways similar to the preceding centuries on a larger scale.

This chapter uses written historical records to provide a summary account of Thracian warfare—native and foreign armies, their weapons, their military operations, and the political results. This account will raise questions to be addressed in the second part of the chapter, which describes alternative sources, especially archaeological ones, and shows how they contribute to a better understanding of Thracian sieges, battlefields, weapon hoards, and militaria found in graves and tombs.

Syllabus for graduate-level ancient western military history elective currently taught at the Army War College, utilizing both translated primary and secondary sources. Note this is designed for a 75 page count per lesson and taught in 3 hour class blocks.

New Approaches to Greek and Roman Warfare brings together essays from specialists in ancient history who employ contemporary tools and approaches to reveal new evidence and increase knowledge of ancient militaries and warfare. In-depth yet highly readable, this volume covers the most recent trends for understanding warfare, militaries, soldiers, non-combatants, and their roles in ancient cultures. Chronologically-organized chapters explore new methodologies, evidence, and topics while offering fresh and original perspectives on recent documentary and archaeological discoveries. Covering the time period from Archaic Greece to the Late Roman Empire, the text asks questions of both new and re-examined old evidence and discusses the everyday military life of soldiers and veterans. Chapters address unique topics such as neurophysiological explanations for why some soldiers panic and others do not in the same battle, Greek society’s handling of combat trauma in returning veterans, the moral aspects and human elements of ancient sieges, medical care in the late Roman Empire, and the personal experience of military servicemembers and their families. Each chapter is self-contained to allow readers to explore topics in any order they prefer. Providing new material and topical focus, New Approaches to Greek and Roman Warfare is an ideal text for Greek History or Roman History courses, particularly those focusing on ancient warfare, as well as scholars and general readers with interest in the ancient militaries.