Recommended litterature ?

[Stimovsky]

There are many things I don't get about antique warfare, I won't give any example because I'm ashamed.
What should I read to get a grip on what's going on in this game ? If you know of an introductory book covering weapons, troops and formations evolution over the period covered by this game, I'd be thankful.

[stockwellpete]

The book I got for myself to go with these ancient armies is "Warfare in the Ancient World" by Brian Todd Carey (Pen and Sword, 2005). It starts with the Sumerians and goes all the way up to the Romans and the battle at Chalons in 451AD. Highly recommended.

[Stimovsky]

Thank you very much, I just ordered it.

[stockwellpete]

Thank you very much, I just ordered it.

There is also a companion book for the medieval period, "Warfare in the Medieval World" by Brian Todd Carey (Pen and Sword, 2006), which continues the story right up to the 16thC, including stuff on "military revolution" and the Spanish. It is also very good.

[m10bob]

"WARFARE IN THE CLASSICAL WORLD" by John Warry...ISBN 0 86101 034 5


This book gives much general info on all armies covered in the game with many nice illustrations, to include tactics and weapons, and the types and deployment examples of everything in this game, (including those wonderful war engines!!!)

It also gives a brief history of the forces of those wars.

A nice feature is the book also covers the ships used by their navies!..

IMHO, this book is a MUST!!!

It is so valuable...it should have been included with the game, lol!

I got mine, (used in excellent condition) from amazon.com and new copies can be had for maybe twenty bucks, U.S.?

[grumblefish]

There are many things I don't get about antique warfare, I won't give any example because I'm ashamed.
What should I read to get a grip on what's going on in this game ? If you know of an introductory book covering weapons, troops and formations evolution over the period covered by this game, I'd be thankful.

For Immortal Fire, there are some good primary source texts that are pretty much required reading if you like classical history. It's one thing to understand the practical, military realities, and another to have a feel for the general time period. I would recommend picking up the Landmark edition of Herodotus. See how you like it; there are also essays in the back of the text regarding military tactics etc.

If you enjoy Herodotus, then go on to Thucydides and Xenophon's Hellenica. All have Landmark editions if you like that; I suggest Landmark because it comes with a lot of maps, notes, and supporting essays. If you want something more narrow in focus and given to military issues, check out Xenophon's Anabasis. Finally, if you want to get into Alexander then pick up Arrian; there's actually a Landmark edition of that, too.

[Stimovsky]

I never went back to the classical authors since I was dismissed from the Latin class. Maybe now is a good time for another attempt. Thank you for the list !

[Temple]

I just finished the hardcover version of a very interesting "The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell History of Warfare)" by Victor Davis Hanson

[SnuggleBunnies]

I have to note that Hanson is very much on one side of the divide in the study of Greek warfare. For one thing, he takes the view that hoplites actually engaged in organized mass shoving. More distastefully (for me) he lets his own neoconservative ideology invade his books -
see the strongly orientalist tone of The Western Way of War, which uses highly selective examples to present 'the West' as fighting efficiently in massed infantry formations from the Greeks to the present, and 'the East' (ie, everyone else) as fighting in a cowardly manner, relying on missiles and deception.

For a nearly polar opposite view, see Hans Van Wees or Peter Krentz, then make up your own mind. Or, to get an overview of the clash, see 'Men of Bronze.'

[stockwellpete]

I never went back to the classical authors since I was dismissed from the Latin class. Maybe now is a good time for another attempt. Thank you for the list !

eram, eras, erat, eramus, eratis, erant (or is it errant ). That is about all I can remember as I stopped doing Latin in 1969. The other Latin word I know is "iussit", which I think means (he) ordered. The only reason I remember this word is that at the start of every lesson our Latin teacher (old military chap) used to come into the room and bellow at us "iussit", and then we knew we could sit down again. Bloody nightmare that school was at times.

[Doyley50]

I gave up Latin in '64, the teacher at the time was probably very good but had a short fuse and lack of attention could lead to a hard wooden blackboard rubber being hurled at the miscreant. It was said that he had had a hard time as a subaltern in Italy during WW2 and it had affected his nerves. I wish now I could remember more than a few words....

[grumblefish]

I have to note that Hanson is very much on one side of the divide in the study of Greek warfare. For one thing, he takes the view that hoplites actually engaged in organized mass shoving. More distastefully (for me) he lets his own neoconservative ideology invade his books -
see the strongly orientalist tone of The Western Way of War, which uses highly selective examples to present 'the West' as fighting efficiently in massed infantry formations from the Greeks to the present, and 'the East' (ie, everyone else) as fighting in a cowardly manner, relying on missiles and deception.

For a nearly polar opposite view, see Hans Van Wees or Peter Krentz, then make up your own mind. Or, to get an overview of the clash, see 'Men of Bronze.'

He is also a Theban sympathiser, which is essentially unforgivable.