This is an excellent book, immensely valuable to students and general readers, and well worth careful scrutiny by scholars.

The Classical Review

This little book is a gem. It draws together from all available sources a concise picture of the Roman army through the ages. As always, [Breeze] writes with pellucid clarity. His book is a pleasure to read ... [and] is to be warmly recommended to everyone with an interest in Roman history or military history generally.

Classics for All Reviews

Easy to read, informative, and occasionally funny ... [Breeze] manages to cover a wide range of topics in a compact book, while discussing some at times complex and technical issues in an accessible way.

Journal of Roman Studies

A distinguished addition to a series from Bloomsbury Publishing already noted for the quality and range of its titles ... One of the book's principal achievements lies in the deftness with which information is provided, discussed and theories developed - all of it supported by a range of evidence ... Breeze is to be congratulated on the production of an informative, clear and eminently readable treatment of a complex subject.

Newsletter of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society

Breeze (Univ. of Edinburgh, Scotland) offers an accessible introduction to his subject. The book is organized both chronologically and thematically, but it neither is nor purports to be a history of the army or of Roman warfare, for which see Jonathan Roth's comparably priced Roman Warfare (CH, Oct'10, 48-1032). Breeze covers such topics as equipment, engineering, and the function of the army beyond the battlefield. Within this structure, the author refers to major battles and campaigns to illustrate specific tactical maneuvers and strategic decisions. The brief chapters discuss material culture, including archaeological discoveries, monuments, and inscriptions, from throughout the Roman Empire, as well as documentary sources. … this book provides a clearly written and well-illustrated introduction to a topic of enduring fascination. Summing Up: Recommended. General, public, and undergraduate collections.

CHOICE

[A] glossary, thematic index and bibliography usefully complement a well-written work, offering a nuanced view of the Roman army. (Bloomsbury Translation)

Latomus