How do you build a catapult?
How do you organize an ambush?
Can you teach yourself how to command an army?

War was a key part of the life and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. It influenced every level of existence, from the men fighting hand to hand to defend their communities, to the significance economic impact of organising a large fighting force. The ancient writers who tell us about technical aspects of military practice and the management of armies can shed much light on the murky area of the conduct of war, and convey the interest that the subject inspired in the ancient world.

Brian Campbell has selected and translated a wide range of pieces from the ancient military writers. They cover a fascinating range of topics - battle formations and manoeuvres, different types of troops, the art of generalship, methods for conducting and resisting a siege, the construction of artillery and fortifications, and every kind of ploy and trick used by generals to defeat their opponents are all included.

Some works are highly technical, while others make up a survey of this history of warfare and the reasons why past generals had been victorious or come to grief. The book also includes extracts from other historians who have interesting comments on warfare and society. Each piece is annotated with further explanation and context, making this an essential resource for everyone studying the army and warfare in the classical age.