Early Roman Armies, MAA283

Early Roman Armies

(Men-at-Arms 283)

Authors: Nicholas Sekunda, Simon Northwood

Illustrator: Richard Hook

Paperback; July 1995; 48 pages

About this book

The early Romans were only one of a number of peoples that inhabited Iron Age
central Italy. From the 8th to the 3rd century BC, the Romans undertook
territorial expansion, and conflict with neighbouring tribes and cultures
resulted in open war, most notably with the Samnites. Alliances sprang were
created too - but the rise of Rome was unstoppable. This title covers the
equipment, weaponry and dress of the early Romans, from the traditional
foundation in 753 BC to the third century BC, where the dominance of Rome was
beyond challenge. It also deals with developments in warfare, covering the early
cavalry, the pre-hoplite army, the hoplite army and the manipular army. Etruscan,
Latin, and Samnite warfare are also discussed. Men-at-Arms 283, 291 and 46 are
also available in a single volume special edition as 'Caesar's Legions'.

The Authors:

Nicholas Sekunda was born in 1953. After studying Ancient History and Archaeology
at Manchester University, he went on to take his Ph.D. in 1981. He has taken part
in archaeological excavations in Poland, Iran and Greece, participated in a
research project on ancient Persian warfare for the British institute of Persian
Studies. He has published numerous books and academic articles, and is currently
teaching at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology in Torun, Poland

Simon Northwood is a former lecturer at Manchester University in the Department
of History. He has a particularly passionate interest in the Ancient world.

Richard Hook was born in 1938 and trained at Reigate College of Art. After
national service with 1st Bn, Queen's Royal Regiment, he became art editor of the
much-praised magazine Finding Out during the 1960s. He has worked as a freelance
illustrator ever since, earning an international reputation particularly for his
deep knowledge of Native American material culture; and has illustrated more than
50 Osprey titles.

Contents

- Rome's Early History

- The Pre-Hoplite Army

- The Hoplite Army

- Early Cavalry

- The Expansion of Roman Military Strength

- Manipular Warfare

- The Plates