Generalship in the Ancient World

How do you understand yourself and the enemy? How do you choose a battlefield? How do you use surprise and deception in war? What makes a good general? These timeless questions challenged ancient generals and commanders and continue to play on the minds of military leaders to this day. Exploring the ancient historical record of generals, armies and battles, this book provides insights into the decision-making of generals including Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Hannibal, as well as less well-known but formidable military commanders such as Philopoemen, Xanthippus and Iphicrates. Generalship in the Ancient World is an engaging and accessible book for those with an interest in ancient history, military command, and the ongoing challenges of war. Each chapter is presented as a practical ‘How to’ guide, drawing widely across Greek and Roman accounts of warfare and providing a series of robust answers with enduring relevance to modern conflict and military command. This book draws upon the author’s extensive research into the ancient Greek and Roman literature on military conflict and his experience as a military intelligence officer, defence operations analyst and security studies academic.