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Title: Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire : From the First Century A.D. to the Third by Edward N. Luttwak, J. F. Gilliam ISBN: 0-8018-2158-4 Publisher: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr Pub. Date: February, 1979 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.28 (18 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: An excellent overview of Roman imperial strategy
Comment: This is a unique work in that it tries to explain an overall strategic picture of Roman Imperial defense through the principate and into the turbulent third century when the empire as a political entity was in real jepordy of being swept away by internal and external threats. In somewhat technical terms, he goes on to explain how Roman Imperial security evolved over time starting with the early principate. Then going into the Flavian, Antonine and Severan eras. Luttwak does a great job in outlining the threat, security measures and strategies of each different era. Extensive notes allow for additional study. Even though written almost 30 years ago, it is still very relevant. It is striking how simmilar the strategic problems faced by ancient Rome are today faced by the U.S. My only critisism is that he does not go into any detail of internal security measures or how these relate to strategic defense. Otherwise an excellent work.
Rating: 3
Summary: Only for the specialist.
Comment: Only a small part of this book is for the layman: the analysis of the military strategy of the Roman emperor's.
Rome changed its strategy in the 1st century from attack to containment, based on puppet regimes and subsidies. The tactics were to frighten and threat by diplomatic means, and not to intervene violently.
The author states cleverly that the Roman soldier was absolutely not interested in fighting but only in making a career and in receiving a pension after his service.
The other part is only for specialists. It gives a detailed dissection of the structure of the Roman army (e.g. how many men contained a cohort).
Rating: 4
Summary:
Inferior Numbers to Bear
Comment:
Even in decline, Rome held on to most of the territory staked out by Augustus (and a bit more), for two centuries. Luttwak's analysis of the Roman army structure illuminates how a single city managed to impose its own order on a substantial fraction of the world's population, stretching from northern England to the Persian Gulf at its greatest extent, while employing a fairly small army of 300,000 to 500,000 infantry, cavalry, and mariners.
In a rare display of historical trivia, one of the minor characters in the wonderfully dreadful Liz Taylor version of _Cleopatra_ remarked on how Caesar had arrived "with so few men". Luttwak explains the strategic vision that made that possible.
The same strategy has been arrived at (or stumbled onto) by later powers, while others have staggered under too much militarization. The USSR relied on ever-larger piles of weapons, huge standing armies, and proxy warfare outside its borders. That played a role in its demise, as did its failure in Afghanistan. Britain used a strategy similar to Rome's (and superior weapons) to conquer and rule a worldwide empire. The US uses a hybrid strategy to contain its enemies, build reliable alliances, and protect its interests. Superior weapons have also played a part in the US approach.
Rome on the other hand had to rely on discipline and tactics, because it didn't generally have superior weaponry to bring to bear. As others have pointed out, Roman equipment would from time to time leave Roman legions at a disadvantage (lack of a stirrup for example).
Relatively few will read this. Ancient history and warfare buffs should be among its readers.
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Title: Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace by Edward N. Luttwak ISBN: 0674007034 Publisher: Belknap Pr Pub. Date: January, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture (Omite British Commonwealth) by Peter Garnsey, Richard P. Saller ISBN: 0520060679 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: July, 1987 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Roman Imperial Army: Of the First and Second Centuries A.D. by Graham Webster, Hugh Elton ISBN: 0806130008 Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd) Pub. Date: March, 1998 List Price(USD): $18.51 |
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Title: The Roman Army at War: 100 Bc-Ad 200 by Adrian Keith Goldsworthy ISBN: 0198150903 Publisher: Clarendon Pr Pub. Date: September, 1998 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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Title: Coup D'Etat by Edward Luttwak ISBN: 0674175476 Publisher: Harvard Univ Pr Pub. Date: January, 1980 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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