Armies of Ancient Italy 753-218 BC (ePub)
From the Foundation of Rome to the Start of the Second Punic War
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
File Size: 30.9 MB (.epub)
Pages: 192
Illustrations: 80 colour & black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781526751867
Published: 17th November 2020
Before becoming the masters of the Mediterranean world, the Romans had first to conquer the Italian peninsula in a series of harsh conflicts against its other varied and warlike residents. The outcome was no foregone conclusion and it took the Romans half a millennium to secure the whole of Italy. Gabriele Esposito presents the armies that fought these wars, in which the Roman military spirit and their famous legions were forged. He not only follows the evolution of the Roman forces from the Regal Period to the outbreak of the Second Punic War but also the forces of their neighbours, rivals and enemies. The most notable of these, the Etruscans, Samnites and the Italian Greeks are given particular attention but others, such as the Celts and Ligures of the North and the warriors of Sicily and Sardinia, are also considered. Details of the organization, weapons, equipment and tactics of each army are described, while dozens of beautiful colour photos of reenactors show how these warriors looked in the field.
Once more, a beautifully illustrated book, this time starting with the story of Rome from the Regal Period to the Second Punic War. The author follows the highly successful format of his books covering the late period of the Roman Empire. – Most Highly Recommended
Firetrench
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An important approach to real uniformology thanks to the contributions of associations interested in historical recreations.
Miniaturas JM
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Review by Jason Hubbard
Irregular Magazine | Spring Issue 2021
This book and the series it belongs to are a must read for anyone interested in armies of the ancient world. They are especially good starting points for war gamers looking to build armies and plan campaigns to play set in this era of European and Mediterranean history. The full colour plates are a useful resource when it comes to painting your army, they make very good guides regarding the colours used. They are also an excellent resource for anyone considering sculpting miniatures for this period or making conversions on existing minis.
These books will also appeal to historians, especially those who are interested in military topics rather than social history. This volume is as good as previous volumes we’ve reviewed, and I’d definitely suggest you add this book to your shelves.
It’s an interesting look at all the people of the Italian era, but what really brings it to life are the countless full colour photographs of re-enactor groups in the correct armour and dress for the various tribes and regions they represent. Excellent production standards and a fascinating look at the history of early Rome.
The Armourer, March 2021
The illustrations of this book are a revelation. Not the usual reproductions of Roman bas-reliefs and statues, but photos of modern re-enactors wearing carefully reconstructed uniforms and armour based on archaeological finds. This is a fun book as well as being very useful and informative.
Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)
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Another beautiful book in the "Armies of the Past" series, to learn about the various Italic cultures that have enriched, in turn, the same Roman culture with a process of assimilation.
Omne Ignotum Pro Magnifico
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This is a great edition to the library and I will be collecting all of these as they are written.
Medieval Sword School
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About Gabriele Esposito
Gabriele Esposito is an Italian researcher and a long-time student of military history, whose interests and expertise range widely over various periods. Most of his recent studies have been dedicated to the reconstruction of the organization, functioning and tactics of the armies across history; in each of his publications there is always some relevant space dedicated to the 'material culture'of the various armies taken into account and - more in particular - to the empirical science known as 'uniformology'. Gabriele is the author of numerous books on armies and uniforms and is a regular contributor to many specialized magazines in Italy, France, Netherlands and UK. His many previous works include Armies of Early Colonial North America 1607-1713; Armies of the Late Roman Empire 284-476; Armies of the Hellenistic States 323 BC to AD30; Armies of Celtic Europe 700 BC-AD 106; Armies of Ancient Greece, circa 500 BC to 338 BC; and The Macedonian Army of Philip II and Alexander the Great 359-323 BC, all published by Pen & Sword since 2018. He lives in southern Italy, near the ancient battlefield of Beneventum.
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