Battles of the Ancient World 1285 BC - AD 451: From Kadesh to Catalaunian Field Hardcover 2011

by Kelly DeVries

Provides an information-packed, highly-illustrated guide to 20 battles of the Ancient period, including Kadesh, Marathon, Salamis, Gaugamela, Cannae, Alesia, Actium, Adrianople, Catalaunian Field and many more.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Ancient History, Research, Military History, World History

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Kelly DeVries (born December 23, 1956) is an American historian specializing in the warfare of the Middle Ages. He is often featured as an expert commentator on television documentaries. He is professor of history at Loyola University Maryland and Honorary Historical Consultant at the Royal Armouries, UK.

Reviews

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief overview of assorted battles. 8-12 page overviews including maps, pictures, who fought who, and how the battle happened.

Covers Kadesh, Lachish, Marathon, Salamis, Syracuse, Leuctra, Gaugamela, Hydaspes, Trebia, Cannae, Pydna, Aqua Sextae, Carrhae, Alesia, Actium, Teutoberger Wald, Masada, Milvian Bridge, Adrianople, Catalunian Field.

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I like to read me to sleep at night - it's my guilty pleasure. Great illustrations, and CGI drawings of the order-of-battle for each of the major conflicts.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty great description of most of the more famous battles of ancient history, though some battles are conspicuously missing (Thermopylae and Zama, for example).

This book also serves as a decent general history of warfare for the period, showing how militaries changes from the time of the Egyptians and Hittites, through the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and finally the Romans and the various peoples they encountered.

Some of the battles were a bit confusing, and I would've liked more detailed diagrams of how they progressed, but I understand this might be just a limit of the medium. Even with the fog of war and time, it's remarkable how much we know about some of these battles, even if such knowledge only leaves me wanting to know more details.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was entertaining, and the subject matter was interesting to me. I found the descriptions a little bland. Which is good, because the illustrations were bland too. Two peas in a pod.

Part of my extensive Barnes and Noble discount shelf collection.

[Kajah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book with all sorts of maps, paintings, prints and concise descriptions of the battles and their context. I almost want to give it four stars just because of how fun it is to look at but I think this would be misleading. FYI, I acquired my copy for 9.98 at Barnes and Nobles!

[John D DeWeese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent overview of the biggest battles of the ancient world and provides detailed maps and descriptions of the tactics used. I'm a bit of a history buff but learned a number of things in this book. My only complaint is it focuses on Middle East/Europe.

[Alberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but A LOT of factual errors.

[Martin Dolezal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Podrobnější a poutavější než nedávno přečtené české bitvy. Výborné mapky, každá bitva cca 10 stran textu a obrázků.