Roman Battle Tactics 390–110 BC

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Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781846033827
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (338 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Battle Tactics 390–110 BC by : Nic Fields

Download or read book Roman Battle Tactics 390–110 BC written by Nic Fields and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2010-02-23 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By 390 BC, the organization of the Roman army was in need of change. Fighting in the Greek-style with a heavy infantry was proving increasingly outdated and inflexible, resulting in the Roman's defeat at the hands of the Gauls at the battle of Allia. Following on from this catastrophe and in the next fifty years of warfare against Gallic and Italian tribes, a military revolution was born: the legion. This was a new unit of organization made up of three flexible lines of maniples consisting of troops of both heavy and light infantry. However, at the end of the 3rd century BC, Rome's prestige was shattered once more by the genius of Hannibal of Carthage, causing Roman battle tactics to be revised again. The legendary general Scipio Africanus achieved this, finally destroying the Carthaginian army at the climactic victory of Zama. A wholly new kind of soldier had been invented, and the whole Mediterranean world was now at Rome's feet. This book reveals these two defining moments in Roman military history and the revolution in battle tactics that was the result, examining how the Roman army eventually became all-conquering and all-powerful.

Roman Battle Tactics 109BC–AD313

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Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781846031847
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (318 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Battle Tactics 109BC–AD313 by : Ross Cowan

Download or read book Roman Battle Tactics 109BC–AD313 written by Ross Cowan and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2007-07-24 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book clearly explains and illustrates the mechanics of how Roman commanders - at every level - drew up and committed their different types of troops for open-field battles. It includes the alternative formations used to handle different tactical problems and different types of terrain; the possibilities of ordering and controlling different deployments once battle was joined; and how all this was based on the particular strengths of the Roman soldier. Covering the period of "classic" legionary warfare from the late Republic to the late Western Empire, Ross Cowan uses case studies of particular battles to provide a manual on how and why the Romans almost always won, against enemies with basic equality in weapon types - giving practical reasons why the Roman Army was the Western World's outstanding military machine for 400 years.

The Roman Army of the Punic Wars 264–146 BC

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Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781846031458
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (314 download)

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Book Synopsis The Roman Army of the Punic Wars 264–146 BC by : Nic Fields

Download or read book The Roman Army of the Punic Wars 264–146 BC written by Nic Fields and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2007-05-22 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Long before the Second Punic War (218 - 201 BC), Rome's influence extended no further than the Alps, and the wars that it fought consisted of small-scale raids and cattle rustling, with perhaps the occasional battle between armies. Nevertheless, within a century the seeds of an empire had been sown in Iberia, Africa, and the Greek east, and the Roman Republican army became the most successful of its day, establishing standards of discipline, organization, and efficiency that set a bench mark for the later armies of Rome. With the evolution of the Roman Republic came the adoption of the Manipular legion, a formation taken from the hoplite phalanx and first used in mass deployment against the North African nation of Carthage, during the Punic Wars. In this book Nic Fields examines the evolution of the Roman army from its defeat at Cannae through to their final success at Zama which saw a small city-based force evolve into a Mediterranean powerhouse, demonstrating how and why it became the most highly organized, sophisticated force in the ancient world.

Early Roman Warrior 753–321 BC

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1849088330
Total Pages : 130 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (49 download)

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Book Synopsis Early Roman Warrior 753–321 BC by : Nic Fields

Download or read book Early Roman Warrior 753–321 BC written by Nic Fields and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2011-07-20 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The prototypical 'Roman Legionnaire' often seen on television and in movies is actually the product of nearly a millennium of military development. Far back in the Bronze Age, before the city of Rome existed, a loose collection of independent hamlets eventually formed into a village. From this base, the earliest Roman warriors launched cattle raids and ambushes against their enemies. At some point during this time, the Romans began a period of expansion, conquering land and absorbing peoples. Soon, they had adopted classical Greek fighting methods with militia forming in phalanxes. This book covers the evolution of the earliest Roman warriors and their development into an army that would eventually conquer the known world.

Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (1)

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472821815
Total Pages : 65 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (1) by : Raffaele D’Amato

Download or read book Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (1) written by Raffaele D’Amato and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2018-01-25 with total page 65 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Roman unit standards played a important role, both ceremonially and on the battlefield. With the armies of the late Roman Republic and early Empire continually engaged on the frontiers, the soldiers selected for the dangerous honour of carrying them were figures of particular renown and splendour. Standard-bearers wore special armour, with the heads and pelts of animals such as bears, wolves, or even lions draped over their helmets and shoulders. The standards themselves varied greatly, from the legion's Eagle and imperial portrait image to various cohort signa, flags (vexilla) and even dragon 'windsocks' (dracones) copied from barbarian enemies and allies. This first volume of a two-part series by Roman army expert, Rafaele D'Amato uses detailed colour plates and the latest research to examine these vital cogs in the Roman army machine that drove its soldiers to conquer the known world.

Ancient Battle Formations

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Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1526740087
Total Pages : 378 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Ancient Battle Formations by : Justin Swanton

Download or read book Ancient Battle Formations written by Justin Swanton and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2020-08-30 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An analysis of ancient Greek, Roman, and Macedonian winning battle formations, from why they worked, the equipment and men used, and how they broke down. Justin Swanton examines the principal battle-winning formations of the ancient world, determining their composition, function and efficacy. An introductory chapter looks at the fundamental components of the principal battle formations of heavy and light infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots, showing how they bolstered the individual's soldier's willingness to fight. The rest of the book focuses on massed infantry that reigned supreme in this era: the heavily armored Greek hoplite phalanx that was immune to the weaponry of its non-Greek opponents; the Macedonian pike phalanx that was unbeatable against frontal attacks so long as it kept order; the Roman triplex acies which, contrary to popular opinion, consisted of continuous lines in open order, with file spaces wide enough to allow embattled infantry to fall back after which those files closed up instantly against the enemy. A careful study of the Greek and Latin of the sources sheds fresh light on how these formations were organized and worked, reevaluating many conventional notions and leading to some surprising conclusions. Praise for Ancient Battle Formations “This book is both important for its thoroughly researched, original and well-argued historical conclusions and an enjoyable read. Highly recommended.” —Professor F. Noel Zaal (BA, LLB University of Natal, LLM Durban-Westville, LLM Columbia, PhD Wits

Roman Army Units in the Western Provinces (2)

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472833600
Total Pages : 50 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Army Units in the Western Provinces (2) by : Raffaele D’Amato

Download or read book Roman Army Units in the Western Provinces (2) written by Raffaele D’Amato and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-07-25 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The appearance of Roman soldiers in the 3rd century AD has long been a matter of debate and uncertainty, largely thanks to the collapse of central control and perpetual civil war between the assassination of Severus Alexander in 235 and the accession of the great Diocletian in 284. During those years no fewer than 51 men were proclaimed as emperors, some lasting only a few days. Despite this apparent chaos, however, the garrisons of the Western Provinces held together, by means of localized organization and the recruitment of 'barbarians' to fill the ranks. They still constituted an army in being when Diocletian took over and began the widespread reforms that rebuilt the Empire – though an Empire that their forefathers would hardly have recognized. Fully illustrated with specially chosen colour plates, this book reveals the uniforms, equipment and deployments of Roman soldiers in the most chaotic years of the Empire.

Roman Military Medicine

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Publisher : Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1527532119
Total Pages : 126 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (275 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Military Medicine by : Valentine J. Belfiglio

Download or read book Roman Military Medicine written by Valentine J. Belfiglio and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2019-03-27 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work sheds light on the mostly obscure topic of medicine and its use in the Roman military. It explores the workings of the ancient healthcare system, the methods of care by physicians, and the treatments for different ailments and injuries. The contributions utilise historical writings, archeological artifacts, and more recent research on the United States military in order to discuss the past with an eye on the future of military and wildlife survival.

European Medieval Tactics (1)

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Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781849085038
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (85 download)

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Book Synopsis European Medieval Tactics (1) by : David Nicolle

Download or read book European Medieval Tactics (1) written by David Nicolle and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2011-06-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Osprey's elite title on the rise and fall of European medieval cavalry during an 800 year period. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire there was a decline in professional cavalry forces, and infantry dominated in the Germanic successor barbarian kingdoms. In the Carolingian and Norman periods from the 9th to the 11th centuries, under the impact of Viking, Saracen and Magyar advances, the cavalry arm gradually expanded from the small remaining aristocratic elite. Even so, the supposedly complete dominance of the knight in the 12th and 13th centuries is grossly exaggerated, as integrated cavalry and infantry tactics were nearly always the key to success. This is the first in a two-part treatment of medieval tactics, covering developments in both cavalry and infantry tactics. Throughout the period there was a steady evolution of training in both individual and unit skills, of armor and weapons, and thus of tactics on the battlefield. This book covers key moments in this story of evolution from Hastings in 1066 to Legnano in 1176. It also details the later development of cavalry versus cavalry tactics and the two key set piece battles of Bouvines in 1214 and Pelagonia in 1259, the former an example of abject failure of cavalry tactics and the latter a stunning success.

Roman Legionary AD 284-337

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472806689
Total Pages : 145 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Legionary AD 284-337 by : Ross Cowan

Download or read book Roman Legionary AD 284-337 written by Ross Cowan and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-04-20 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Diocletian and Constantine were the greatest of the Late Roman emperors, and their era marks the climax of the legionary system. Under Constantine's successors the legions were reduced in size and increasingly sidelined in favour of new units of elite auxilia, but between AD 284 and 337 the legions reigned supreme. The legionaries defeated all-comers and spearheaded a stunning Roman revival that humbled the Persian Empire and reduced the mighty Goths and Sarmatians to the status of vassals. This title details the equipment, background, training and combat experience of the men from all parts of the empire who made up the backbone of Rome's legions in this pivotal period.

Roman Legionary AD 69–161

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472802845
Total Pages : 150 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Legionary AD 69–161 by : Ross Cowan

Download or read book Roman Legionary AD 69–161 written by Ross Cowan and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-04-20 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Between AD 69 and 161 the composition of the Roman legions was transformed. Italians were almost entirely replaced by provincial recruits, men for whom Latin was at best a second language, and yet the 'Roman-ness' of these Germans, Pannonians, Spaniards, Africans and Syrians, fostered in isolated fortresses on the frontiers, was incredibly strong. They were highly competitive, jealous of their honour, and driven by the need to maintain and enhance their reputations for virtus, that is manly courage and excellence. The warfare of the period, from the huge legion versus legion confrontations in the Civil War of AD 69, through the campaigns of conquest in Germany, Dacia and Britain, to the defence of the frontiers of Africa and Cappadocia and the savage quelling of internal revolts, gave ample opportunity for virtus-enhancing activity. The classic battle formation that had baffled Pyrrhus and conquered Hannibal was revived. Heroic centurions continued to lead from the front, and common legionaries vied with them in displays of valour. The legions of the era may have been provincial but they were definitely Roman in organisation and ethos.

Pike and Shot Tactics 1590–1660

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1849082669
Total Pages : 66 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (49 download)

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Book Synopsis Pike and Shot Tactics 1590–1660 by : Keith Roberts

Download or read book Pike and Shot Tactics 1590–1660 written by Keith Roberts and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-05-20 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Throughout the 17th century large parts of Europe were depopulated during the wide-ranging and savage wars of religion and dynasty, involving all of the major powers. This was therefore a key period in the development of 'modern' infantry tactics, such as the use of pole-arms and muskets together hence the popular expression 'pike and shot'. These infantry tactics involved different national schools on thought and practice, and were tested bloodily in great battles. This title covers the Dutch-Spanish wars of independence, The Thirty Years' War and the English Civil Wars.

Roman Shields

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472839609
Total Pages : 65 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Shields by : M.C. Bishop

Download or read book Roman Shields written by M.C. Bishop and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-08-20 with total page 65 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The introduction of the scutum in the 4th century BC revolutionized the way the Romans fought. Instead of being purely defensive, the shield became a weapon in its own right. Using the top edge or boss to punch an opponent, or the lower rim to smash down on their feet, it served to unbalance an enemy and allow the sword to do its work. The versatility of the scutum was characterized by the testudo, a formation the Romans used offensively like a pedestrian tank. Meanwhile, other shield types equipped the auxiliaries who fought alongside the legionaries. The curved, rectangular scutum survived into the 3rd century AD, only to be replaced by an oval, slightly domed shield derived from the oval shields of Early Imperial auxiliaries. Drawing together historical accounts, excavated artefacts and the results of the latest scientific analyses of the boards and fittings, renowned authority M.C. Bishop reveals the development, technology, training and use of the scutum and other Roman shield types.

Rome's Third Samnite War, 298–290 BC

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Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1526744112
Total Pages : 329 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Rome's Third Samnite War, 298–290 BC by : Mike Roberts

Download or read book Rome's Third Samnite War, 298–290 BC written by Mike Roberts and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2020-03-30 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Third Samnite War (298-290 BC) was a crucial episode in the early history of Rome. Upon its outcome rested mastery of central Italy, and the independent survival of both Rome and the Samnites. Determined to resist aggressive Roman expansion, the Samnites forged a powerful alliance with the Senones (a tribe of Italian Gauls), Etruscans and Umbrians. The result was eight years of hard campaigning, brutal sieges and bitter battles that stretched Rome to the limit. The desperate nature of the struggle is illustrated by the ritual self-sacrifice (devotio) by the Roman consul Publius Decimus Mus at the Battle of Sentinum (295 BC), which restored the resolve of the wavering Roman troops, and by the Samnite Linen Legion at the Battle of Aquilonia (393 BC), each man of which was bound by a sacred oath to conquer or die on the battlefield. Mike Roberts, who has travelled the Italian landscape upon which these events played out, mines the sources (which are more reliable, he argues, than for Rome’s previous wars) to produce a compelling narrative of this momentous conflict.

Roman Heavy Cavalry (2)

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 147283951X
Total Pages : 65 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Heavy Cavalry (2) by : Andrei Evgenevich Negin

Download or read book Roman Heavy Cavalry (2) written by Andrei Evgenevich Negin and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-11-26 with total page 65 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the twilight of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th–6th centuries, the elite of the field armies was the heavy armoured cavalry – the cataphracts, clad in lamellar, scale, mail and padded fabric armour. After the fall of the West, the Greek-speaking Eastern or Byzantine Empire survived for nearly a thousand years, and cavalry remained predominant in its armies, with the heaviest armoured regiments continuing to provide the ultimate shock-force in battle. Accounts from Muslim chroniclers show that the ironclad cataphract on his armoured horse was an awe-inspiring enemy: '...they advanced against you, iron-covered – one would have said that they advanced on horses which seemed to have no legs'. This new study, replete with stunning full-colour illustrations of the various units, offers an engaging insight into the fearsome heavy cavalry units that battled against the enemies of Rome's Eastern Empire.

Roman Plate Armour

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472851862
Total Pages : 142 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Plate Armour by : M.C. Bishop

Download or read book Roman Plate Armour written by M.C. Bishop and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2022-11-24 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fully illustrated, this book investigates the articulated plate armour worn by Roman legionaries. First named by Renaissance historians studying the reliefs on Trajan's Column, lorica segmentata evaded successful attempts to reconstruct it until a series of important archaeological finds in the 20th century revealed how it worked and the truth of its extended chronology. The earliest finds date from the late 1st century BC, and its discovery at Kalkriese in Germany shows how rapidly it was adopted. At the same time, discoveries in Spain and Britain showed that, despite its apparent fragility, it continued in use into the 4th century AD. The spectacular find of six halves of cuirasses in a chest at Corbridge in 1964 has now been matched by the rare discovery of a complete set of this armour at Kalkriese. The Corbridge find provided the context to interpret and reconstruct earlier finds. There is now years of experience gleaned from reenactors over the practical strengths and weaknesses of this form of armour. At the same time, scientific analysis has provided insights into the technology behind this revolutionary form of armour so characteristic of the Roman Army. Featuring specially commissioned artwork and drawing upon the latest findings, this study lifts the veil on the formidable plate armour used by the legionaries of Imperial Rome.

Clash of Eagles

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Author :
Publisher : Del Rey
ISBN 13 : 0804177236
Total Pages : 367 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (41 download)

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Book Synopsis Clash of Eagles by : Alan Smale

Download or read book Clash of Eagles written by Alan Smale and published by Del Rey. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perfect for fans of action-adventure and historical fiction—including novels by such authors as Bernard Cornwell, Steve Berry, Naomi Novik, and Harry Turtledove—this stunning work of alternate history imagines a world in which the Roman Empire has not fallen and the North American continent has just been discovered. In the year 1218 AD, transported by Norse longboats, a Roman legion crosses the great ocean, enters an endless wilderness, and faces a cataclysmic clash of worlds, cultures, and warriors. Ever hungry for land and gold, the Emperor has sent Praetor Gaius Marcellinus and the 33rd Roman Legion into the newly discovered lands of North America. Marcellinus and his men expect easy victory over the native inhabitants, but on the shores of a vast river the Legion clashes with a unique civilization armed with weapons and strategies no Roman has ever imagined. Forced to watch his vaunted force massacred by a surprisingly tenacious enemy, Marcellinus is spared by his captors and kept alive for his military knowledge. As he recovers and learns more about these proud people, he can’t help but be drawn into their society, forming an uneasy friendship with the denizens of the city-state of Cahokia. But threats—both Roman and Native—promise to assail his newfound kin, and Marcellinus will struggle to keep the peace while the rest of the continent surges toward certain conflict. Praise for Clash of Eagles “That rarest and best of alternative histories: the one you believe, the one that makes sense. Alan Smale has a storyteller’s flair for character, and presents an ensemble cast with a depth of detail of which George R. R. Martin would approve. It works as a novel, as historical speculation, and as cultural extrapolation. But its real value is singular: It’s a ripping good yarn, and one that will keep you reading long past your bedtime.”—Myke Cole, award-winning author of the Shadow Ops series “Just when it seems there is nothing new in [alternate] history comes this debut.”—Library Journal (starred review) “An intriguingly original alternate history.”—Kirkus Reviews “[Smale] breathes life into the New World civilizations and offers up a compelling view of what might have happened had these two continents collided. . . . I found the New World of 1218 AD fascinating.”—Historical Novels Review “Authoritatively researched, compellingly told, and with pleasing echoes of L. Sprague de Camp, Clash of Eagles is a modern masterpiece of what-if speculation.”—Stephen Baxter, Philip K. Dick Award–winning author of The Time Ships “Smale has done remarkable work with the worldbuilding in Clash of Eagles, dropping the sole Roman survivor of a massacre into the complex civilization of the Cahokian Native Americans in the thirteenth century.”—Harry Turtledove, New York Times bestselling author of How Few Remain “My favorite kind of alternate history: epic, bloody, and hugely imaginative.”—John Birmingham, author of Without Warning “Epic in its sweep, exciting in its narrative, and eyeball-kick sharp in its details.”—Nancy Kress, Nebula and Hugo Award–winning author of Beggars in Spain “The first book of Alan Smale’s trilogy introduces the series with a lightning bolt. Bracketed between two breathtaking and meticulously strategized battles is a sensitive evocation of a lost culture, an act of literary archeology like no other I’ve read.”—James Patrick Kelly, Nebula Award–winning author of Burn