Best history books for this period?

**Beedo83** · February 15, 2017, 05:44 PM

I'd love to know what you guys are or have been reading relating to military actions and tactics during the ancient period. I've read Caesar and I plan to get Augustus soon but I'm really interested in getting the best sources as possible. I've seen In the Name of Rome out there which focuses on some well documented battles, for instance. Thanks for your recommendations.

**Maetharin** · February 16, 2017, 04:20 AM

It really depends on what you want to know about.
F.e. if you want to read about the Seleucids you can´t not read Bar-Kochva, even though it´s highly speculative in some aspects.
For the Antigonids f.e. I recommend Nick Sekunda.
For a more detailed look on certain aspects I can recommend most of R.A. Billows´ books, like Antigonos Monophthalmos.

IMO the best course of action would be to look for the newest publications,
start with them and then read the most prominent parts of their bibliography.
Primary sources like Caesar or Polybius should be read with caution,
at best after you´ve read some complementary work on them first.

Google-Fu is helpful, but going to your local library is usually the best start,
especially when you have a university with a history department in your vicinity.
F.e. in my case, I usually go to the library of the ancient history department at Vienna university.

**Falco** · February 16, 2017, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Maetharin

It really depends on what you want to know about.
F.e. if you want to read about the Seleucids you can´t not read Bar-Kochva, even though it´s highly speculative in some aspects.
For the Antigonids f.e. I recommend Nick Sekunda.
For a more detailed look on certain aspects I can recommend most of R.A. Billows´ books, like Antigonos Monophthalmos.

IMO the best course of action would be to look for the newest publications,
start with them and then read the most prominent parts of their bibliography.
Primary sources like Caesar or Polybius should be read with caution,
at best after you´ve read some complementary work on them first.

Google-Fu is helpful, but going to your local library is usually the best start,
especially when you have a university with a history department in your vicinity.
F.e. in my case, I usually go to the library of the ancient history department at Vienna university.

This.

A thing to keep in mind, most ancient sources (such as caesar) tend to exaggerate.

**Jurand of Cracow** · February 16, 2017, 07:02 AM

I think the best list of the books on history concerning this period, available around, and giving you choice to fit your interests is in this post (and later in the thread).
I fully agree with Maetharin's opinion that "Primary sources like Caesar or Polybius should be read with caution, at best after you´ve read some complementary work on them first."

**Nilte** · February 16, 2017, 07:40 AM

I have bought and read several books from Osprey and I am not disapointed so far. But also keep in mind that this period is very limited when it comes to accurate sources

anyway here is a link to Osprey if you want to check it out. https://ospreypublishing.com/

**Maetharin** · February 16, 2017, 08:01 AM

For the Ptolemies Christelle Fischer Bovet´s work is the newest publication to read
IIRC it´s available on amazon as Kindle Ebook as well as Hardcover

**Beedo83** · February 21, 2017, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the info and links. A wealth of history in the bibliography! What about Polybius and Livy, can they be counted as reliable sources?

**Meraun** · February 22, 2017, 12:28 AM

As for accurate i've read a couple of History Books wich a friend of mine had on his University List for ancient History. Not the easiest read, but very interesting.

Since i do like to read novels as well, i went for Simon Scarrow's Eagle of the Empire. Its a very nice read about two Legionaires during the time of Rome's invasion of Britannia.
he is a Historian and basicly takes stuff we know about, filles the blanks with his interpretation and and builds a story around it.

i really like it.

**Hoplitus** · February 22, 2017, 01:57 AM

I can recommend to everybody:

"Legionary: The Roman soldier's (unofficial) manual" by Philip Matyszak

https://www.amazon.com/Legionary-Rom.../dp/0500251517

Of course this is a non-academic book about the Roman army but it still has some very useful info and it's well researched as far as I can see.

Also it's easy to ready and even funny!

The author basically descripes the Roman army to someone thinking about enlisting into the army. So you get an idea what awaits you and also what might fit to your person (would you like to be an inf man or cavalryman etc.) Everything is covered from pay over the actual battle to the aftemath of a battle like medical care for wounded soldiers. And there are even some pictures (of soldiers, battlefields etc.) and other graphics and citations.

Like I said non-academic but informative and fun to read! I own it myself and I love to grub inside every now and then!

**Maetharin** · February 22, 2017, 02:27 AM

Again, ancient sources can' be taken at face value, read them after you've read a modern publication.

As for historical fiction, I enjoy it too, Scarrow's Eagle Series is really good f.e.
But I have to say I kind of disliked the latest one.
The Masters of Rome Series is also very good, and for those who enjoy politics, Robert Harris's Imperium series is also really good. But these are fictional, therefore not academic.