Philip Matyszak's Books

The Enemies of Rome: From Hannibal to Attila the Hun

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Enemies of Rome: From Hannibal to Attila the Hun

By: Philip Matyszak

Matyszak writes clearly and engagingly . . . nicely produced, with ample maps and illustrations." —Classical Outlook This engrossing book looks at the growth and eventual demise of Rome from the viewpoint of the peoples who fought against it. Here is the reality behind such legends as Spartacus the gladiator, as well as the thrilling tales of Hannibal, the great Boudicca, the rebel leader and Mithridates, the connoisseur of poisons, among many others. Some enemies of Rome were noble heroes and others were murderous villains, but each has a unique and fascinating story.

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389

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Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500771766

ISBN 13

9780500771761

Sparta: Fall of a Warrior Nation

By: Philip Matyszak

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Sparta: Fall of a Warrior Nation

By: Philip Matyszak

The author of Sparta: Rise of a Warrior Nation continues his revealing history of the Ancient Greek city-state in this chronicle of its decline and defeat. Universally admired in 479 BC, the Spartans became masters of the Greek world by 402 BC, only for their state to collapse in the next generation. What went wrong? Was the fall of Sparta inevitable? In Sparta: Fall of a Warrior Nation, Philip Matyszak examines the political blunders and failures of leadership which combined with unresolved social issues to bring down the nation—even as its warriors remained invincible on the battlefield. The Spartans believed their society was above the changes sweeping their world. And by resisting change, they were doomed to be overwhelmed by it. But the Spartans refused to accept total defeat, and for many years their city exercised influence far beyond its size and population. This is a chronicle of political failure—one rich in heroes, villains, epic battles and political skullduggery. But it is also a lesson in how to go down fighting. Even with the Roman legions set to overwhelm their city, the Spartans never gave up

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222

Publisher

Pen and Sword

Published Date

ISBN 10

1473874742

ISBN 13

9781473874749

Mithridates the Great

Rome's Indomitable Enemy

By: Philip Matyszak

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Mithridates the Great

Rome's Indomitable Enemy

By: Philip Matyszak

This military biography of the ancient King of Pontus, one of the Roman Republic’s greatest rivals, draws on a wealth of new scholarly evidence. Fought between the Roman Republic and the Kingdom of Pontus, the Mithridatic wars stretched over half a century and two continents. Their story is one of pitched battles, epic sieges, double-crosses, world-class political conniving, assassinations and general treachery. Through it all, one rogue character stands out among the rest. Mithridates VI of Pontus was a connoisseur of poisons, arch-schemer and strategist. He was as resilient in defeat as he was savage in victory. Few leaders went to war with Rome and lived to tell the tale, but in the first half of the first century BCE, Mithridates did so three times. At the high point of his career his armies swept the Romans out of Asia Minor and Greece, reversing a century of Roman expansion in the region. Even after fortune had turned against Mithridates, he did not submit. Up until the day he died, a fugitive driven to suicide by the treachery of his own son, he was still planning an overland invasion of Roman itself.

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385

Publisher

Pen and Sword

Published Date

ISBN 10

1848847017

ISBN 13

9781848847019

The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories (Myths)

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories (Myths)

By: Philip Matyszak

Full of intriguing facts and diverting stories—the ideal introduction to the myths and tales that lie at the heart of Western culture. Who was Pandora and what was in her famous box? How did Achilles get his Achilles heel? What exactly is a Titan? And why is one computer virus known as a Trojan horse? The myths of ancient Greece and Rome can seem bewilderingly complex, yet they are so much a part of modern life and discourse that most of us know fragments of them. This comprehensive companion takes these fragments and weaves them into an accessible and enjoyable narrative, guiding the reader through the basic stories of classical myth. Philip Matyszak explains the sequences of events and introduces the major plots and characters, from the origins of the world and the labors of Hercules to the Trojan War and the voyages of Odysseus and Aeneas. He brings to life an exotic cast of heroes and monsters, wronged women and frighteningly arbitrary yet powerful gods. He also shows how the stories have survived and greatly influenced later art and culture, from Renaissance painting and sculpture to modern opera, literature, movies, and everyday products.

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324

Publisher

Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500770697

ISBN 13

9780500770696

Expedition to Disaster

The Athenian Mission to Sicily 415 BC

By: Philip Matyszak

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Expedition to Disaster

The Athenian Mission to Sicily 415 BC

By: Philip Matyszak

This thrillingly vivid history recounts a pivotal battle of the Peloponnesian War, bringing the drama and personalities of the Sicilian Expedition to life. The Athenian expedition to conquer Sicily was one of the most significant military events of the classical period. At the time, Athens was locked in a decades-long struggle with Sparta for mastery of the Greek world. The expedition to Sicily was intended to win Athens the extra money and resources needed to crush the Spartans. With the aid of new archaeological discoveries, Expedition to Disaster reconstructs the mission, and the ensuing siege, in greater detail than ever before. The cast of characters includes Alcibiades, the flamboyant, charismatic young aristocrat; Nicias, the ageing, reluctant commander of the ill-fated expedition, and Gylippus, the grim Spartan general sent to command the defense of Syracuse. It was he who turned the tables on the Athenian invaders. They were surrounded, besieged, and forced to ask for mercy from a man who had none. Philip Matyszak's combination of thorough research and gripping narrative presents an episode of ancient history packed with colorful characters and dramatic tension.

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332

Publisher

Pen and Sword

Published Date

ISBN 10

1783036273

ISBN 13

9781783036271

Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual

By: Philip Matyszak

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Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual

By: Philip Matyszak

An insider's guide: how to join the Roman legions, wield a gladius, storm cities, and conquer the world Your emperor needs you for the Roman army! The year is AD 100 and Rome stands supreme and unconquerable from the desert sands of Mesopotamia to the misty highlands of Caledonia. Yet the might of Rome rests completely on the armored shoulders of the legionaries who hold back the barbarian hordes and push forward the frontiers of empire. This carefully researched yet entertainingly nonacademic book tells you how to join the Roman legions, the best places to serve, and how to keep your armor from getting rusty. Learn to march under the eagles of Rome, from training, campaigns, and battle to the glory of a Roman Triumph and retirement with a pension plan. Every aspect of army life is discussed, from drill to diet, with handy tips on topics such as how to select the best boots or how to avoid being skewered by enemy spears. Combining the latest archaeological discoveries with the written records of those who actually saw the Roman legions in action, this book provides a vivid picture of what it meant to be a Roman legionary.

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246

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Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

050077174X

ISBN 13

9780500771747

Greece Against Rome

The Fall of the Hellenistic Kingdoms 250–31 BC

By: Philip Matyszak

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Greece Against Rome

The Fall of the Hellenistic Kingdoms 250–31 BC

By: Philip Matyszak

The acclaimed ancient world historian examines the centuries-long decline of Greek powers in the face of the growing Roman threat. Towards the middle of the third century BC, the Hellenistic kingdoms were near their peak. In terms of population, economy and military power, each was vastly superior to Rome, not to mention in fields such as medicine, architecture, science, philosophy and literature. But over the next two and a half centuries, Rome would eventually conquer these kingdoms while adopting so much of Hellenistic culture that the resultant hybrid is known as ‘Graeco-Roman’. In Greece Against Rome, Philip Matyszak relates this epic tale from the Hellenistic perspective. At first, the Romans appear to be little more than another small state in the barbarian west as the Hellenistic powers are consumed by war amongst themselves. It is a time of assassinations, double crosses, dynastic incest, and warfare. By the time they turn their attention to Rome, it is already too late .

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253

Publisher

Pen and Sword Military

Published Date

ISBN 10

1473874823

ISBN 13

9781473874824

Roman Conquests: Macedonia and Greece

By: Philip Matyszak

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Roman Conquests: Macedonia and Greece

By: Philip Matyszak

The acclaimed ancient world historian presents an accessible and authoritative account of the Macedonian Wars of the 3rd century, BCE. While the Roman Republic was struggling for survival against the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War, Philip V of Macedon attempted to take advantage of its apparent vulnerability by allying with Hannibal and declaring war. The Romans first negated this threat by deploying allies to keep Philip occupied in Greece and Illyria. Once Carthage was defeated, however, the stage was set for the clash of two of the most successful military systems of the ancient world, the Roman legions versus the Macedonian phalanx. Though sorely tested, the legions emerged victorious from the epic battles of Cynoscephelae and Pydna. The home of Alexander the Great fell under the power of Rome, along with the rest of Greece, which had a profound effect on Roman culture and society. Like the other volumes in this series, this book chronicles these wars in a clear narrative, explaining how the Roman war machine coped with formidable new foes and the challenges of unfamiliar terrain and climate. Specially commissioned color plates bring the main troop types vividly to life in meticulously researched detail.

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319

Publisher

Casemate Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1848849508

ISBN 13

9781848849501

The Enemies of Rome: From Hannibal to Attila the Hun

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Enemies of Rome: From Hannibal to Attila the Hun

By: Philip Matyszak

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389

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Thames & Hudson

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ISBN 10

0500771766

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9780500771761

Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual

By: Philip Matyszak

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Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual

By: Philip Matyszak

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246

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Thames & Hudson

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ISBN 10

050077174X

ISBN 13

9780500771747

Gladiator: The Roman Fighter's [Unofficial] Manual

By: Philip Matyszak

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Gladiator: The Roman Fighter's [Unofficial] Manual

By: Philip Matyszak

An entertaining yet factual insider's guide: how to become a gladiator, hone your fighting skills, and thrill the crowds in the Colosseum. So you think you’d like to be a gladiator? Find out how to get thousands to idolize you as the strongest, meanest fighter in the Roman empire. Win fame and fortune in one of Rome’s most glamorous locations, in the presence of the emperor himself. Who wouldn’t kill for a job like that? This handy guide tells you everything you need to know before you step out to fight for your life in front of a roaring crowd: Why you should become a gladiator How to join the most glamorous—yet lethal—profession on earth Who will try to kill you, and with what Which arena of the empire is the right one for you When and how often you will fight What happens before, during, and after a duel Combining the latest research with modern reconstructions, Gladiator helps you experience firsthand the spectacular yet brutal life and death of the most iconic figure of ancient Rome.

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284

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Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500771723

ISBN 13

9780500771723

The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories (Myths)

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories (Myths)

By: Philip Matyszak

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324

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Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500770697

ISBN 13

9780500770696

The Roman Empire

A Beginner's Guide

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Roman Empire

A Beginner's Guide

By: Philip Matyszak

No other political entity has shaped the modern world like the Roman Empire. Encompassing close to a quarter of the world’s population and 3 million km2 of land, it represented a diverse and dynamic collection of nations, states and tribes, all bound to Rome and the ideal of a Roman identity. In the lively and engaging style that he’s known for, Philip Matyszak traces the history of the Roman Empire from the fall of the Assyrians and the rise of the Roman Republic through to the ages of expansion, crisis and eventual split. Breathing new life into these extraordinary events, Matyszak explains how the empire operated, deploying its incredibly military machine to conquer vast territory then naturalizing its subject peoples as citizens of Rome. It was a method of rule so sophisticated that loyalty to Rome remained strong even afters its collapse creating an expansive legacy that continues to this day.

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214

Publisher

Simon and Schuster

Published Date

ISBN 10

1780744250

ISBN 13

9781780744254

The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome's First Dynasty

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome's First Dynasty

By: Philip Matyszak

The story of one of the most colorful dynasties in history, from Caesar's rise to power in the first century BC to Nero's death in AD 68 This engaging new study reviews the long history of the Julian and Claudian families in the Roman Republic and the social and political background of Rome. At the heart of the account are the lives of six men—Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Neromen—who mastered Rome and then changed it from a democracy to a personal possession. It was no easy task: Caesar and Caligula were assassinated, Nero committed suicide, and Claudius was poisoned. Only Augustus and Tiberius died natural deaths and even that is uncertain. The Julio-Claudian saga has a host of other intriguing characters, from Cicero, the last great statesman of the Republic, to Livia, matriarch of the Empire; the passionate Mark Antony and the scheming Sejanus; and Agrippina, mother of Nero and sister of Caligula, who probably murdered her husband and was in turn killed by her son. Set against a background of foreign wars and domestic intrigue, the story of Rome's greatest dynasty is also the story of the birth of an imperial system that shaped the Europe of today.

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430

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Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500771782

ISBN 13

9780500771785

A History of Ancient Rome in 100 Lives

By: Philip Matyszak,Joanne Berry

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A History of Ancient Rome in 100 Lives

By: Philip Matyszak,Joanne Berry

One hundred vivid portraits of real-life characters bring to life the highs and lows of Rome’s dramatic history. A vibrant portrait of a lost world, A History of Ancient Rome in 100 Lives reveals the mightiest civilization of antiquity through the eyes of one hundred of its citizens. The book gives a voice not just to Rome’s most famous generals and rulers, such as Caesar and Caligula, but also to its builders, sculptors, poets, historians, gladiators, shepherds, enslaved people, and courtesans. The book begins with Faustulus, the fosterfather of Romulus and Remus, and closes with the final emperor, Romulus Augustulus. The stories of Roman women are given their due as well—from Servilia, Caesar’s lover; to Agrippina, the murderous wife of Claudius; Amazonia, the sword-swinging gladiator; and Hypatia, philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician. Exploring every level of society and using the latest archaeological evidence as well as ancient texts, the authors build up a picture of what it meant to live in Ancient Rome.

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330

Publisher

Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500778167

ISBN 13

9780500778166

Ancient Magic: A Practitioner's Guide to the Supernatural in Greece and Rome

By: Philip Matyszak

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Ancient Magic: A Practitioner's Guide to the Supernatural in Greece and Rome

By: Philip Matyszak

An accessible historical exploration of the methods and motivations behind using magic in ancient Greece and Rome. In the ancient world, magic was everywhere. The supernatural abounded, turning flowers into fruit and caterpillars into butterflies. In a time before scientists studied weather patterns and figured out what caused the Earth’s most mysterious phenomena, it was magic that packed a cloud full of energy until it exploded with thunderbolts. It was everyday magic, but it was still magical. In Ancient Magic, author Philip Matyszak ushers readers into that world, showing how ancient Greeks and Romans concocted love potions and cast curses, how they talked to the dead and protected themselves from evil spirits. He takes readers to a world where gods interacted with humans and where people could not only talk to spirits and deities, but could themselves become divine. Ancient Magic presents us with a new understanding of the role of magic, combining a classical historiography with a practical how-to guide. Using a wide array of sources and lavish illustrations, this book offers an engaging and accessible way into the supernatural for all.

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263

Publisher

Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500774617

ISBN 13

9780500774618

Midget Ninja & Tactical Laxatives

Bizarre Warfare Through the Ages

By: Philip Sidnell

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Midget Ninja & Tactical Laxatives

Bizarre Warfare Through the Ages

By: Philip Sidnell

Which army used camels disguised as war elephants? Which illustrious warlord was killed by a midget ninja hidden in his latrine? How was a Japanese vessel sunk by live cows dropped by the Soviet air force? And just what kind of weapon was the Bohemian Ear Spoon? These are just a few of the important questions of military history answered in this book. Midget Ninja and Tactical Laxatives is a light-hearted look at some of the most bizarre incidents, weirdest weapons and strangest stratagems to be found in the annals of warfare. Drawn from all periods of history there is something here for every reader with an interest in military history and/or a sense of humor. Some of the sections included: War Elephants and How to Stop Them (including the infamous blazing pigs) Ignominious Deaths (e.g. the midget ninja in the latrine) A Misplaced Sense of Honor (e.g. the sniper who let George Washington live) Suicide Missions (e.g. mass suicide as a diversion tactic and a case of self-decapitation) Weird and Wonderful Weapons (such as the WW2 bat bomb -with real bats) Stranger things happen at Sea (e.g. million-ton ice ships and death by blocked toilet) God is on our side (of omens, oracles and the ancient battle stopped by a UFO) An Army Marches on its Stomach (e.g. the tactical use of laxatives and the Greek army immobilized for 3 days by hallucinogenic honey) “Entertaining, informative, and funny.” —Ben Kane, author of the bestselling Spartacus novels

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251

Publisher

Casemate Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

178159595X

ISBN 13

9781781595954

Christianity

An Introduction

By: Philip Kennedy

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Christianity

An Introduction

By: Philip Kennedy

The Christian faith has the allegiance of one third of the human race. It has succeeded in influencing civilization to such a degree that we now take its existence almost for granted. Yet it might all have been so different. Christianity began with the words and deeds of an obscure village carpenter's son who died a shameful criminal's death at the hands of the Roman occupiers of his country: itself an insignificant outpost of the powerful ruling Empire. The feverish land of biblical Palestine, awash with apocalyptic expectations of deliverance from its foreign overlords, was hardly short of seers and prophets who claimed to be sent visions from God. Yet the followers of this man thought he was different: so different, in fact, that some years after his death and asserted resurrection they scandalously insisted not only that he was sent by God, but that he 'was' God. Many introductions to Christianity are written by Christians, for Christians. This elegant textbook, by contrast, shows that the history of the religion, while often glorious, is not one of unimpeded progress, but something still more remarkable, flawed and human.

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360

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

085771936X

ISBN 13

9780857719362

Julius Caesar

By: Philip Freeman

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Julius Caesar

By: Philip Freeman

A fascinating, comprehensive biography of the cunning Roman conqueror Julius Caesar. More than two thousand years after his death, Julius Caesar remains one of the great figures of history. He shaped Rome for generations, and his name became a synonym for “emperor”—not only in Rome but as far away as Germany and Russia. He is best known as the general who defeated the Gauls and doubled the size of Rome’s territories. But, as Philip Freeman describes in this fascinating new biography, Caesar was also a brilliant orator, an accomplished writer, a skilled politician, and much more. Julius Caesar was a complex man, both hero and villain. He possessed great courage, ambition, honor, and vanity. Born into a noble family that had long been in decline, he advanced his career cunningly, beginning as a priest and eventually becoming Rome’s leading general. He made alliances with his rivals and then discarded them when it suited him. He was a spokesman for the ordinary people of Rome, who rallied around him time and again, but he profited enormously from his conquests and lived opulently. Eventually he was murdered in one of the most famous assassinations in history. Caesar’s contemporaries included some of Rome’s most famous figures, from the generals Marius, Sulla, and Pompey to the orator and legislator Cicero as well as the young politicians Mark Antony and Octavius (later Caesar Augustus). Caesar’s legendary romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra still fascinates us today. In this splendid biography, Freeman presents Caesar in all his dimensions and contradictions. With remarkable clarity and brevity, Freeman shows how Caesar dominated a newly powerful Rome and shaped its destiny. This book will captivate readers discovering Caesar and ancient Rome for the first time as well as those who have a deep interest in the classical world.

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469

Publisher

Simon and Schuster

Published Date

ISBN 10

1416565884

ISBN 13

9781416565888

Imperial General

The Remarkable Career of Petellius Cerialis

By: Philip Matyszak

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Imperial General

The Remarkable Career of Petellius Cerialis

By: Philip Matyszak

The biography of a 1st century Imperial Roman officer whose colorful life and remarkable career spans many of the era’s major events. Few Imperial Romans below the level of emperor left a historic imprint as complete or as fascinating as that of Petilius Cerealis. From Boudicca’s rebellion in Britannia to the infamous “year of the four emperors” in Rome, Cerealis had a knack for getting caught up in some of the most significant and dangerous episodes of his time—and somehow emerging unscathed. This lively biography offers a rare glimpse into the life of an Imperial Roman officer during the Principate. As a Legion Commander in Roman Britain, Cerealis was in charge of quashing the revolt led by Queen Boudicca of the Iceni. In 69 CE, the year after Emperor Nero’s suicide, Cerealis was in Rome while his uncle Vespasian was preparing to seize the empire. In danger of losing his life as a traitor, Cerealis fled to join his uncle as he charged the capital. Later, while commanding a force on the Rhine, Cerealis escaped the Batavian mutiny because he was in a local woman’s bed rather than his own tent.

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298

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Casemate Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1848849125

ISBN 13

9781848849129

The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome's First Dynasty

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome's First Dynasty

By: Philip Matyszak

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430

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Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500771782

ISBN 13

9780500771785

The Roman Empire

A Beginner's Guide

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Roman Empire

A Beginner's Guide

By: Philip Matyszak

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214

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Simon and Schuster

Published Date

ISBN 10

1780744250

ISBN 13

9781780744254

The Greeks

Lost Civilizations

By: Philip Matyszak

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The Greeks

Lost Civilizations

By: Philip Matyszak

This book is a portrait of Ancient Greece—but not as we know it. Few people today appreciate that Greek civilization was spread across the Middle East, or that there were Greek cities in the foothills of the Himalayas. Philip Matyszak tells the lost stories of the Greeks outside Greece, compatriots of luminaries like Sappho, the poet from Lesbos; Archimedes, a native of Syracuse; and Herodotus, who was born in Asia Minor as a subject of the Persian Empire. Stretching from the earliest prehistoric Greek colonies around the Black Sea to Greek settlements in Spain and Italy, through the conquests of Alexander and the glories of the Hellenistic era, to the fall of Byzantium, The Greeks illuminates the lives of the Greek soldiers, statesmen, scientists, and philosophers who laid the foundations of what we call “Greek culture” today—though they seldom, if ever, set foot on the Greek mainland. Instead of following the well-worn path of examining the rise of Athenian democracy and Spartan militarism, this book offers a fresh look at what it meant to be Greek by instead telling the story of the Greeks abroad, from modern-day India to Spain.

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268

Publisher

Reaktion Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1780239432

ISBN 13

9781780239439

Julius Caesar in Egypt

Cleopatra & the War in Alexandria

By: Philip Matyszak

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Julius Caesar in Egypt

Cleopatra & the War in Alexandria

By: Philip Matyszak

In 48 BC the armies of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great fought a decisive battle at Pharsalus in Greece. Pompey was comprehensively defeated and fled to the last power in the Mediterranean world that was independent of Rome, Ptolemaic Egypt. Caesar pursued Pompey and was presented with his severed head, which the Egyptians hoped would make Caesar leave them in peace. Instead, Caesar – as if he did not have enough to do already – plunged gleefully into the world of Egyptian palace politics, riven by dynastic dispute. He quickly sided with the beguiling Queen Cleopatra (after her famous carpet trick), despite having little more than a bodyguard with him. Most of his army was still in Greece, leaving him massively outnumbered by the Egyptian forces. The Romans were besieged in Alexandria for seven months before reinforcements could get through to them. Julius Caesar in Egypt is a true story of double-cross, assassination and intrigue accompanied by lively battles, daring escapes, disastrous fires (the Great Library of Alexandria was largely destroyed in one fracas) and, if not a love story, at least a tale of sex and power as Caesar and Cleopatra’s relationship shaped these world-changing events.

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177

Publisher

Pen and Sword Military

Published Date

ISBN 10

1399097377

ISBN 13

9781399097376

Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain

By: Philip Matyszak

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Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain

By: Philip Matyszak

The epic battle to liberate Spain from Roman rule is a masterclass of ancient guerilla warfare, recounted by the author of Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day. In the year 82 BC, after a brutal civil war, the dictator Sulla took power in Rome. But among those who refused to accept his rule was the young army officer Quintus Sertorius. Sertorius fled, first to Africa and then to Spain, where he made common cause with the native people who had been savagely oppressed by a succession of corrupt Roman governors. Discovering a genius for guerilla warfare—and claiming to receive divine guidance from Artemis—Sertorius came close to driving the Romans out of Spain altogether. Rome responded by sending reinforcements under the control of Gen. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, who would go on to become Pompey the Great. The epic struggle between these two commanders, known as the Sertorian War, is a masterclass of ancient strategy and tactical maneuver. Massively outnumbered, Sertorius remained undefeated on the battlefield, but was eventually assassinated by jealous subordinates, none of whom proved a match for Pompey. The tale of Sertorius is both the story of a people struggling to liberate themselves from oppressive rule, and the story of a man who started as an idealist and ended almost as savage and despotic as his enemies. But above all, it is the story of a duel between two great generals, fought between two different styles of army in the valleys of the Spanish interior.

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189

Publisher

Pen and Sword

Published Date

ISBN 10

1473829887

ISBN 13

9781473829886

Lives of the Romans

By: Joanne Berry,Philip Matyszak

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Lives of the Romans

By: Joanne Berry,Philip Matyszak

One hundred biographies reveal the mightiest civilization of the ancient world through the lives of its citizens. At its peak Rome's empire stretched across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, yet it started as a primitive encampment above a riverside marsh. This book spans the great chronological and geographical sweep of the Roman age and brings the reader face to face with those who helped create the empire, from consuls and commanders to ordinary soldiers, voters, and taxpayers. An extraordinary range of viewpoints is explored in these biographies. A centurion and a plasterer's wife share pages with the orator Cicero and the scholar Pliny the Elder, while a vestal virgin shares a chapter with Antinous, the boy-lover of Hadrian. Augustine, the church patriarch, and Constantine, Rome's first "Christian" emperor, rub shoulders with Julian the Apostate and Vettius Agorius Praetextatus, leader of the pagans. Roman women were the most liberated in the ancient world. They could wield massive power and influence, yet are often overlooked. Meet Servilia, Caesar's lover; Sulpicia, the teenage poet; Amazonia, the sword-swinging gladiator; and Cloelia, the girl who escaped captivity by swimming the Tiber. Lavishly illustrated with magnificent works of art, including portraits, sculptures, and Renaissance paintings of Roman scenes, this book reveals the real-life stories behind the rise and fall of Rome. Philip Matyszak teaches Roman History for the Institute of Continuing Education at Cambridge. He has written extensively on the ancient world. Joanne Berry teaches ancient history at Swansea University and is the author of The Complete Pompeii.

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239

Publisher

Thames & Hudson

Published Date

ISBN 10

0500771707

ISBN 13

9780500771709

A Walk Through Ancient Rome

A Tour of the Historical Sites That Shaped the City

By: Philip Matyszak

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A Walk Through Ancient Rome

A Tour of the Historical Sites That Shaped the City

By: Philip Matyszak

In this expert guide to the ancient city, Dr Philip Matyszak takes us on a journey through some of ancient Rome's most historically significant sites and locations, revealing the dramatic stories behind one of history's most fascinating empires.

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233

Publisher

Michael O'Mara Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1789295238

ISBN 13

9781789295238

Book's by Philip Matyszak

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