Roman Shields

Roman Shields
Author: M.C. Bishop
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 65
Release: 2020-08-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1472839609

The introduction of the scutum in the 4th century BC revolutionized the way the Romans fought. Instead of being purely defensive, the shield became a weapon in its own right. Using the top edge or boss to punch an opponent, or the lower rim to smash down on their feet, it served to unbalance an enemy and allow the sword to do its work. The versatility of the scutum was characterized by the testudo, a formation the Romans used offensively like a pedestrian tank. Meanwhile, other shield types equipped the auxiliaries who fought alongside the legionaries. The curved, rectangular scutum survived into the 3rd century AD, only to be replaced by an oval, slightly domed shield derived from the oval shields of Early Imperial auxiliaries. Drawing together historical accounts, excavated artefacts and the results of the latest scientific analyses of the boards and fittings, renowned authority M.C. Bishop reveals the development, technology, training and use of the scutum and other Roman shield types.

Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier

Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier
Author: Graham Summer
Publisher: Frontline Books
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2009-09-17
Genre: History
ISBN: 1848325126

From the Latin warriors on the Palatine Hill in the age of Romulus, to the last defenders of Constantinople in 1453 AD, the weaponry of the Roman Army was constantly evolving. Through glory and defeat, the Roman warrior adapted to the changing face of warfare. Due to the immense size of the Roman Empire, which reached from the British Isles to the Arabian Gulf, the equipment of the Roman soldier varied greatly from region to region.Through the use of materials such as leather, linen and felt, the army was able to adjust its equipment to these varied climates. Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier sheds new light on the many different types of armour used by the Roman soldier, and combines written and artistic sources with the analysis of old and new archaeological finds. With a huge wealth of plates and illustrations, which include ancient paintings, mosaics, sculptures and coin depictions, this book gives the reader an unparalleled visual record of this fascinating period of military history. This book, the first of three volumes, examines the period from Marius to Commodus. Volume II covers the period from Commodus to Justinian, and Volume III will look at the period from Romulus to Marius.

Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome, second edition

Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome, second edition
Author: M. C. Bishop
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Total Pages: 347
Release: 2006-04-22
Genre: History
ISBN: 1785703951

Rome's rise to empire is often said to have owed much to the efficiency and military skill of her armies and their technological superiority over barbarian enemies. But just how 'advanced' was Roman military equipment? What were its origins and how did it evolve? The authors of this book have gathered a wealth of evidence from all over the Roman Empire - excavated examples as well as pictorial and documentary sources - to present a picture of what range of equipment would be available at any given time, what it would look like and how it would function. They examine how certain pieces were adopted from Rome's enemies and adapted to particular conditions of warfare prevailing in different parts of the Empire. They also investigate in detail the technology of military equipment and the means by which it was produced, and discuss wider questions such as the status of the soldier in Roman society. Both the specially prepared illustrations and the text have been completely revised for the second edition of this detailed and authoritative handbook, bringing it up to date with the very latest research. It illustrates each element in the equipment of the Roman soldier, from his helmet to his boots, his insignia, his tools and his weapons. This book will appeal to archaeologists, ancient and military historians as well as the generally informed and inquisitive reader.

Roman Imperial Armour

Roman Imperial Armour
Author: David Sim
Publisher: Oxbow Books Limited
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781842174357

This is the story of the production of the armour used by the soldiers of the Roman Empire. The book presents an examination of the metals the armour was made from, of how the ores containing those metals were extracted from the earth and transformed into workable metal and of how that raw product was made into the armour.

Roman Helmets

Roman Helmets
Author: Hilary & John Travis
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
Total Pages: 493
Release: 2014-12-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1445638479

A comprehensive and wonderfully illustrated study of Roman helmets, their changing styles, their construction and their use in combat

The Shield of Rome

The Shield of Rome
Author: William Kelso
Publisher:
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2011-11
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9781908603098

216 BC. The two great super powers of the ancient world, Rome and Carthage are engaged in a life and death struggle to control the known world. Hannibal, the legendary Carthaginian general leads his army across the Alps into Italy and inflicts three mighty disasters upon the poorly led Romans. After the battle of Cannae, Rome's worst ever defeat in her history, it seems inevitable that the proud Roman republic will fall. In Rome only one man, Quintus Fabius Maximus seems to have the strength to guide the panic stricken city through the crisis. His heroic spirit rallies his countrymen and a divided Senate but his life is in danger when a ruthless assassin arrives in Rome with orders to kill Fabius.

Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual

Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual
Author: Philip Matyszak
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2009-06-29
Genre: History
ISBN: 050077174X

An insider's guide: how to join the Roman legions, wield a gladius, storm cities, and conquer the world Your emperor needs you for the Roman army! The year is AD 100 and Rome stands supreme and unconquerable from the desert sands of Mesopotamia to the misty highlands of Caledonia. Yet the might of Rome rests completely on the armored shoulders of the legionaries who hold back the barbarian hordes and push forward the frontiers of empire. This carefully researched yet entertainingly nonacademic book tells you how to join the Roman legions, the best places to serve, and how to keep your armor from getting rusty. Learn to march under the eagles of Rome, from training, campaigns, and battle to the glory of a Roman Triumph and retirement with a pension plan. Every aspect of army life is discussed, from drill to diet, with handy tips on topics such as how to select the best boots or how to avoid being skewered by enemy spears. Combining the latest archaeological discoveries with the written records of those who actually saw the Roman legions in action, this book provides a vivid picture of what it meant to be a Roman legionary.

The Spatha

The Spatha
Author: M.C. Bishop
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 81
Release: 2020-01-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 147283240X

Adopted from the Celts in the 1st century BC, the spatha, a lethal and formidable chopping blade, became the primary sword of the Roman soldier in the Later Empire. Over the following centuries, the blade, its scabbard, and its system of carriage underwent a series of developments, until by the 3rd century AD it was the universal sidearm of both infantry and cavalry. Thanks to its long reach, the spatha was the ideal cavalry weapon, replacing the long gladius hispaniensis in the later Republican period. As the manner in which Roman infantrymen fought evolved, styles of hand-to-hand combat changed so much that the gladius was superseded by the longer spatha during the 2nd century AD. Like the gladius, the spatha was technologically advanced, with a carefully controlled use of steel. Easy maintenance was key to its success and the spatha was designed to be easily repaired in the field where access to a forge may have been limited. It remained the main Roman sword into the Late Roman period and its influence survived into the Dark Ages with Byzantine, Carolingian and Viking blades. Drawing together historical accounts, excavated artefacts and the results of the latest scientific analyses of the blades, renowned authority M.C. Bishop reveals the full history of the development, technology, training and use of the spatha: the sword that defended an empire.

How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel

How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel
Author: Cressida Cowell
Publisher: Turtleback Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014-04-22
Genre:
ISBN: 9780606353076

For use in schools and libraries only. The Dragon Rebellion has begun, bringing the Vikings' darkest hour upon them. Hiccup has become an outcast, but that won't stop him from going on the most harrowing and important quest of his life. He must find the Dragon's Jewel in order to save his people... but where should he begin?

Roman Heavy Cavalry (2)

Roman Heavy Cavalry (2)
Author: Andrei Evgenevich Negin
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 65
Release: 2020-11-26
Genre: History
ISBN: 147283948X

In the twilight of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th–6th centuries, the elite of the field armies was the heavy armoured cavalry – the cataphracts, clad in lamellar, scale, mail and padded fabric armour. After the fall of the West, the Greek-speaking Eastern or Byzantine Empire survived for nearly a thousand years, and cavalry remained predominant in its armies, with the heaviest armoured regiments continuing to provide the ultimate shock-force in battle. Accounts from Muslim chroniclers show that the ironclad cataphract on his armoured horse was an awe-inspiring enemy: '...they advanced against you, iron-covered – one would have said that they advanced on horses which seemed to have no legs'. This new study, replete with stunning full-colour illustrations of the various units, offers an engaging insight into the fearsome heavy cavalry units that battled against the enemies of Rome's Eastern Empire.