Examining military systems and their evolution from the earliest recorded times to the late Roman Empire, this work analyzes, period by period, the organization, tactics, armour and weaponry of armies, from the host of the Egyptian Pharaohs to the army which shored up the crumbling Roman Empire. Subjects such as the triremes of the 5th century BC, the grand strategy of the Assyrian Empire and the strategic genius of Alexander the Great are all covered. The book also attempts to throw some light on archaeological problems of the period.