This book chronicles the Roman soldiers and generals that shaped the Roman Empire by wars and conquests, from expansion, to its decline and fall. Color photos, maps, and photos illustrate the disciplined and highly trained army that conquered a vast empire comprising the known world.

Four sections of the book describe the development and wars of the Roman army:

• The Early Republic 753-150BC
• The Late Republic 150-27BC
• The Early Empire 27BC-AD235
• The Late Empire AD235-500

A chronology of Roman Empire wars and empires, and an index of significant warriors and battles are also provided.

The chronological organization of the book nicely portrays the training and tactics developed for the Roman soldier, and also describes their commanding generals and emperors. The maps illustrate the various stages of the Roman Empire’s growth and decline. Color photos, mostly of statues, further portray key figures. The color paintings create a vivid image of the soldiers and their battles, first for the Roman Republic, and then for its Emperors.

The book includes ’Sidebar’ descriptions of significant historical figures, battles, or other events in addition to the main sections.

Summary

This nice book is a brief, interesting read about the history of the Roman Armies, its solders, generals, and key political figures. The many paintings provide colorful images and might provide inspiration for Roman Empire figure modelers.

Many thanks to Osprey for continuing to publish these wonderful historical books, and for providing review samples to IPMS.