The Great Armies of Antiquity

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Gabriel explores 18 ancient army systems, focusing on their organizational structures, weaponry, and how cultural values influenced military force. The analysis delves into the tactical doctrines and operational capabilities of each army, revealing how technical limitations and societal imperatives shaped their effectiveness. Connections across cultures and historical periods provide a broader context for understanding these ancient forces. The examination includes armies from Sumer and Akkad, the Pharaohs, Hittites, Mitanni, Biblical armies, Assyria, China, Persia, Greece, Carthage, India, Rome, Iberians, Celts, Germans, Goths, Byzantium, Vikings, Arab forces, Japan, Mongolia, and the Ottomans. Additionally, the text offers an overview of warfare from 2500 B.C.E. to 1453 C.E. and traces the evolution of modern warfare from 1453 to 2002 C.E. The content is structured with a foreword, preface, and detailed chapters on each army, concluding with an exploration of modern warfare, a bibliography, and an index.