Soldiers and Ghosts by J E Lendon

Soldiers and Ghosts by J E Lendon

This study of military changes across Greece and Rome is designed to appeal to the general reader. Soldiers and Ghosts seeks to explore why changes in warfare took place set against the backgrounf of a slow process of technological change. Lendon emphasises the role of discipline, heroism, patriotism, military obedience, loyalty, and recollection and emulation of a heroic past in the history of warfare and discusses how both Greeks and Romans built on the 'ghosts of tradition', the cultural traditions and heroes of the past. From Homer's Iliad , the origins of the phalanx, hoplite warfare, the Persian Wars, Alexander the Great, Hellenistic warfare, through to Roman warfare up until the 4th century AD, the book covers a wide period of history.

"Soldiers and Ghosts is a stunningly original contribution to our understanding of ancient warfare, written with great style and verveIt is one of those rare books that powerfully challenges received opinion and demands attention. At the same time, it is a wonderful read that should hold appeal for any layman with an interest in the Greeks and Romans or simply in the history of warfare." Donald Kagan, author of The Peloponnesian War; "Soldiers and Ghosts offers a wholly original cultural history of Greek and Roman warfare. The book is hugely impressive in scope and ambition, often brilliant in interpretation, elegantly constructed and wonderfully written." Hans van Wees, author of Greek Warfare: Myths and Realities"

J. E. Lendon teaches history at the University of Virginia. He is the author of Empire of Honour: The Art of Government in the Roman World.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780300106633
ISBN 10	0300106637
Title	Soldiers and Ghosts
Author	J E Lendon
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Yale University Press
Year published	2005-12-31
Number of pages	480
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.