Yet as Chrissanthos makes clear, history comes full circle during this period. Major events and important individuals are discussed in their historical contexts, providing a complete understanding of underlying causes, and enabling readers to follow the evolution of ancient warfare as armies and empires became steadily larger and more sophisticated. The chronological structure allows the reader to trace certain general themes down through the centuries: how various civilizations waged war who served in the various armies and why who the generals and officers were who made the decisions in the field what type of government controlled these armies and from what type of society they sprang. This volume is a practical introduction to the study of warfare in the ancient world, beginning with Egypt and Mesopotamia, and tracing the advances made in battle tactics, technology, and government over hundreds of years, culminating with developments in Greece and the Roman Empire.

“From the clash of bronze weapons on bronze armor to the fall of Rome, war often decided the course of ancient history.