Tag: Military History

Collections: Alexander Goes West (A Silly Counterfactual)

This week we're going to do something a bit silly, in part because I have to prepare for and travel to an invited workshop/talk event later this week and so don't have quite the time for a more normal 'full' post and in part because it is fun to be silly sometimes (and we might … Continue reading Collections: Alexander Goes West (A Silly Counterfactual) →

Collections: The Siege of Eregion, Part IV: What Siege Equipment?

This is the fourth part of our [five? -ish? I, II, III] part series on the Siege of Eregion in Amazon's Rings of Power. Last week, we took the opportunity presented by Adar's absurd plan to dam a river using catapults to collapse a mountain to discuss the capabilities and functioning principles of historical counterweight … Continue reading Collections: The Siege of Eregion, Part IV: What Siege Equipment? →

Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IVa: Philip V

This is the first part of the fourth part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, V) look at why the thing to use to beat a Macedonian sarisa phalanx is, in fact, a Roman legion in the third and second century BC. Last time, we finished our look … Continue reading Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IVa: Philip V →

Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIb: Pyrrhus

This is the second part of the third part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, V) look at the performance of the Roman army and its legions in the third and second century BC against the Hellenistic armies of the heirs of Alexander. Last time, we sought to … Continue reading Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIb: Pyrrhus →

Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIa: Peak Pike-Phalanx

This is the first part of the third part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, V) look at the triumph of the Roman legions in the third and second century over the Hellenistic armies of the heirs of Alexander. Last time, we looked at some of the operational … Continue reading Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIa: Peak Pike-Phalanx →

Collections: The Marian Reforms Weren’t a Thing

This week we're going to take a bit of a detour because the previous post on the Roman conscription system, the dilectus, sparked some discussion both here and on social media which made me realize that the popular understanding of the way that the Roman army changed during the Late Republic (c. 133-31 BC, though … Continue reading Collections: The Marian Reforms Weren’t a Thing →

Michael Taylor on John Keegan, Part II: The Mask of Command

This week, Michael Taylor, Associate Professor of History at SUNY Albany, returns to offer a continuation of his look at the work of British military historian John Keegan. Last time, he discussed Keegan's most famous work, The Face of Battle, while this week Michael turns to discuss what he argues is one of Keegan's best … Continue reading Michael Taylor on John Keegan, Part II: The Mask of Command →

Michael Taylor on John Keegan’s The Face of Battle: A Retrospective

In a special treat this week, Michael Taylor, Associate Professor of History at SUNY Albany is back (he has written here once before). This time Michael is taking a look back at what is probably "he most influential book on any aspect of military history in the last fifty years" and I'd argue probably the … Continue reading Michael Taylor on John Keegan’s The Face of Battle: A Retrospective →