Ancient Wars c.2500BCE–500CE

Professor Dennis Showalter

Sep 2013 · Amber Books Ltd

About this ebook

The ancient world was a time when advanced edged weapons made of metal, sophisticated bows and siege engines replaced the basic weaponry of the prehistoric era, and great generals such as Alexander the Great developed battle tactics and strategies that are still studied today. This volume looks at the battles that were fought across the globe, whether it was the epic naval battles of Greece, or archers on elephants in India. The Ancient Wars c.2500BCE-500CE – the first volume in the Encyclopedia of Warfare Series – shows the conflicts that raged for two millennia as the first governments emerged and states began to develop. Starting with the earliest battles known to history, this is a chronological guide to conflict on every continent, from the Macedonian and Roman Empires to the great Chinese dynasties, from the early battles for Jerusalem to Hadrian’s Wall, from the sieges of Troy to the fall of Rome. It tells the stories of how entire cities were razed to the ground, and how misjudgements of terrain and bad weather led to crushing defeats on the battlefield. Featuring full colour maps illustrating the formations and strategies used, plus narrative descriptions of the circumstances behind each battle, this is a comprehensive guide to the conflicts of the ancient world. The Encyclopedia of Warfare Series is an authoritative compendium of almost five millennia of conflict, from the ancient world to the Arab Spring. Written in a style accessible to both the student and the general enthusiast, it reflects the latest thinking among military historians and will prove an indispensible reference guide.

Ratings and reviews

Excellent and informative

About the author

Dennis E. Showalter was a professor of history at Colorado College who specialized in German military history. He was President of the American Society for Military History from 1997 to 2001. He was the winner of the 1992 Birdsall Prize, the 2005 Samuel Eliot Morison Prize and the 2018 Pritzker Literature Award. He also served as a consultant for the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, the United States Training and Doctrine Command, and the DOD Office of Net Assessment. He died in 2019.