The Definitive Library - Printable Version +- RomanArmyTalk (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat) +-- Forum: Research Arena (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +--- Forum: References & Reviews (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=13) +--- Thread: The Definitive Library (/showthread.php?tid=1972) |
The Definitive Library - Anonymous - 08-22-2004 Avete,<br> <br> Following a few recent fumbles trying to research items, I've decided I need to get a decent library of source material together. <br> <br> I thought this would make an interesting topic that others could benefit from as well.<br> <br> So, to all those long in the tooth stalwarts! in terms of tactics, lifestyle and reconstruction, what should be on my top ten reference books.<br> <br> Valete<br> <br> Mummius <p></p><i></i> Re: The Definitive Library - JRSCline - 08-22-2004 And this promising thread will be moved to Reference and Reviews... Carry on! <p><br> --------------------<br> <br> "The great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they are realities, and are often even more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."<br> -- Niccoló Machiavelli, <em>The Discourses</em>, 1517. </p><i></i> Re: The Definitive Library - Anonymous - 08-22-2004 My top three (deliberately leaving out Robertson) reference books on the roman military:<br> <br> 1. Peter Connolly, "Greece and Rome at War"<br> 2. M.C. Bishop and J.C.N. coulston, "Roman Military Equipment"<br> 3. Michel Feugere, "Weapons of the Romans"<br> <p></p><i></i> Re: The Definitive Library - Nathan Ross - 08-28-2004 I'd say that no library on the Roman army would be complete without original sources - it's all very well knowing what the legions did and what they looked like while doing it, but without context it's meaningless. As a number one, I'd say Julius Caesar's complete 'War Commentaries' would be a must - it's about as eyewitness as these things get, and provides the best account going of a Roman army on campaign and in battle.<br> <br> Others would depend on the period of interest. For the republic, there's Livy and Polybius. For the later republic, read Appian. Tacitus gives a good account of the army of the principiate (in fact, a compiliation of 'Histories', 'Annals' and 'Agricola' might be in the definitive top 10 as well), as does Josephus. There's also Marcellinus for the later empire.<br> <br> As for general reference books, my personal favourite is Warry's 'Warfare in the Classical World', mainly because of the excellent illustrations. I still think Warry is the best Roman military illustrator out there - but as far as I know he doesn't seem to have done anything visual besides this one book. <p></p><i></i> Re: The Definitive Library - Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus - 08-29-2004 As far as good sources on origins go, I am pretty satisfied with TJ Connels book "The Beginnings of Rome". It is very informative and extremely well written. If I didn't have so many darn text books to read I could focus my attention on that book more thouroughly. But oh well. <p>THERE ARE NO STUPID PEOPLE, ONLY PEOPLE STUPID ENOUGH TO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY'VE MADE A MISTAKE</p><i></i> Library - Anonymous - 10-06-2004 Get all of Adrian Goldsworthy's books:<br> <br> The Punic Wars<br> In the Name of Rome<br> Cannae<br> The Complete Roman Army<br> The Roman Army at War 100bc-200ad<br> <br> In the original sources I would recommend Tacitus:<br> <br> Germania/Agricola<br> Annals (Overview of early Imperial years)<br> Histories (Devoted to 69 Ad....Year of four Emperors) <p></p><i></i> Books I turn to most often - Anonymous - 10-06-2004 The books I turn to most often are:-<br> -The three Graham Sumner books- two published by Osprey and one by Brassey (all excellent)<br> -Feugere<br> - Christies catalogues- the Axel Guttmann collection (1 & 2) - to look at great pictures of the originals<br> -The Roman Legion in colour photographs - Dan Peterson (great pics)<br> I have on order via ebay a copy of Robinson , and have pre-ordered the new Bishop & Coulston which both sound like essential sources.<br> (I also sneak a look at the Ospreys as well, but wouldn't admit it publically<br> <br> As for originals, my favourite is Josephus as an eye witness account, though Agricola runs him close.<br> <br> Regards,<br> <br> Paulus<br> <br> <p></p><i></i> Re: Books I turn to most often - Jeroen Pelgrom - 10-07-2004 T.H. Dodge - Caesar and Hannibal are also great to read!<br> Vegetius<br> <br> basicly the books in our bookstore at RA.com:<br> [url=http://www.romanarmy.com/Content/Miscellanii/Miscellaneous_Main/Bookstore/Bookstore_Books/BOOKSTORE-BOOKS.htm" target="top]RA Bookstore[/url]<br> are all "must-haves" <p>-------------------------------------------------------<br> A great flame follows a little spark.<br> Dante Alighieri,The Divine Comedy<br> </p><i></i> |