Roman Warfare

Adrian Goldsworthy presents a concise and comprehensive history of the Roman military forces that built the Roman Empire. The book traces over a thousand years of Roman military history, covering both the empire's rise and eventual decline. Roman warfare was characterized by relentless pursuit of victory and the total destruction of enemies. This approach enabled Rome to expand across much of Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. What set the Roman army apart from its opponents was this uncompromising ferocity combined with an ability to absorb conquered peoples, which contributed to the empire's longevity. The book examines the Roman army as one of the most professional fighting forces in ancient history—an institution that created an empire and shaped the world.