Book review: Warfare in the Classical World by John Warry

Wargamers for this period may know of Warry from the Osprey book on Alexander. He is described on the book's dust cover as a classicist and military historian

This "encyclopaedia of weapons, warriors and warfare in the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome" offers a wealth of information in an impressively accessible format. The author has compressed a history of warfare from Mycenaean era, c. 1600 BCE, to the end of the Roman Empire c. 800 CE. Chapters cover Persian wars, Peloponnesian war, Alexander the Great, the Roman Republic, the Punic wars, Julius Caesar, the wars of the Triumvirate and the coming of the Barbarians.

The encyclopaedia format of this book is reminiscent of the well illustrated 'paedias of twenty years ago. This is not meant as a criticism of the book, for unlike modern encyclopaedias, it provides detailed accounts and a coherent coverage of the topic, rather than the modern equivalent which uses the "two-page-spread" and snappy, small "sound-bite" descriptions of disparate facts. This is a book which provides depth and understanding of the era.

Everything the wargamer might want to know is described in this book: arms and armour, methods of fighting, strategy, battle plans, troop deployment and army descriptions, etc.. In addition, Warry gives accounts from contemporary literature and accounts, and discusses how well qualified each author is to write about these battles.

There are regular full colour illustrations of typical warriors and weapons, often accompanied by contemporary pictures from pottery or carvings. For example the Peloponnesian war is accompanied by an illustration of a Synthian archer and a Spartan Hoplite whilst the Wars of the Triumvirate has illustrations and detailed descriptions of a Ballista, Scorpio, Cheiroballistra and Onager.

In addition to the above there is an useful glossary identifying both Greek and Latin words and a very detailed index. This book has all the hallmarks of an essential reference work.

The only thing which is missing from this well researched book is a bibliography. It is evident that John Warry has studied this era for quite a while, but he seems unprepared to share a list of worthwhile texts - perhaps he believes this book provides it all?

Published by Salamander Books, 1998, ISBN 1840650044 [paperback] approx. price £8, ISBN 0861010345 [Hardback] approx. £17, 224 pages.

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