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Books : The Enemies of Rome: From Hannibal to Attila the Hun
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Rating: 
- A good read
To often most of our reading around the Ancient world centres on Rome, Greece or Egypt. This book looks at the various nations and in some cases tribes that stood against the power of the day, Rome.
There is a quote at the beginning of this book that made it almost compulsory reading for me.
It points out how we often view The Roman Empire as a civilisation far more advanced than any other nation of its era based upon the wonders it has left behind. What we do not know or forget though is there were nations and peoples of the same era that may have been equally as advanced but were obliterated at the Roman sword. The Celts, Dacians, and Carthagians to name but a few! Who knows what mark they could have left if they were not repressed by the Romans.
This book is very light yet consuming read based on some of the individuals who stood against the military might that was Rome. Boudica, Vercingtorix, Jugurtha, Cleopatra, Mithridates and of course Hannibal all get a chapter, not to mention another dozen or so as well.
Like previous reviews have stated do not expect detailed views on the various nations led by the people mentioned, but do expect to enrich your own learning and perhaps get a point of view you had not expected.
Rating: - Gentle Introduction
A good gentle introduction to the enemies of Rome. An engaging read that I think would appeal to the general reader of history or classics. While not strictly academic - it does breathe life to a subject that can be a little dry and no doubt will inspire deeper reading.
Rating: - A Nice & Light Read
I wouldn't recommend this book to a specialist in the field, nor even to someone with a sound general knowledge of the history of Rome. But, to anyone who is just beginning to explore this huge subject, I'd say that this nice, light read will go down well and have them hankering for more.
Briefly, the author sketches short biographies of some of the most notorious figures in the Empire's history, starting with Hannibal and ending with Attila the Hun. Despite the relative brevity of each portrait, I think readers will be able to engage with each 'character' in a way that isn't really possible with most of the heavier, academic-type books. Notably, the author also avoids that tiresome critisism and revisionism thing that bedevils far too many books on this subject, only ever introducing doubt about his ancient sources in a constructive and unobtrusive manner.
This is uncomplicated, straightforward and non-controversial stuff.
As I say, this is ideal for the generalist, armchair historian interested in the basics and could even provide the stimulus for really 'getting serious' about Roman history too.
- A good readTo often most of our reading around the Ancient world centres on Rome, Greece or Egypt. This book looks at the various nations and in some cases tribes that stood against the power of the day, Rome.
There is a quote at the beginning of this book that made it almost compulsory reading for me.
It points out how we often view The Roman Empire as a civilisation far more advanced than any other nation of its era based upon the wonders it has left behind. What we do not know or forget though is there were nations and peoples of the same era that may have been equally as advanced but were obliterated at the Roman sword. The Celts, Dacians, and Carthagians to name but a few! Who knows what mark they could have left if they were not repressed by the Romans.
This book is very light yet consuming read based on some of the individuals who stood against the military might that was Rome. Boudica, Vercingtorix, Jugurtha, Cleopatra, Mithridates and of course Hannibal all get a chapter, not to mention another dozen or so as well.
Like previous reviews have stated do not expect detailed views on the various nations led by the people mentioned, but do expect to enrich your own learning and perhaps get a point of view you had not expected.
Rating:
- Gentle IntroductionA good gentle introduction to the enemies of Rome. An engaging read that I think would appeal to the general reader of history or classics. While not strictly academic - it does breathe life to a subject that can be a little dry and no doubt will inspire deeper reading.
Rating:
- A Nice & Light ReadI wouldn't recommend this book to a specialist in the field, nor even to someone with a sound general knowledge of the history of Rome. But, to anyone who is just beginning to explore this huge subject, I'd say that this nice, light read will go down well and have them hankering for more.
Briefly, the author sketches short biographies of some of the most notorious figures in the Empire's history, starting with Hannibal and ending with Attila the Hun. Despite the relative brevity of each portrait, I think readers will be able to engage with each 'character' in a way that isn't really possible with most of the heavier, academic-type books. Notably, the author also avoids that tiresome critisism and revisionism thing that bedevils far too many books on this subject, only ever introducing doubt about his ancient sources in a constructive and unobtrusive manner.
This is uncomplicated, straightforward and non-controversial stuff.
As I say, this is ideal for the generalist, armchair historian interested in the basics and could even provide the stimulus for really 'getting serious' about Roman history too.