Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Warfare, Equipment and Technology in the Roman Army

Uncover the intricacies of warfare, technology, and equipment in the Roman army with our comprehensive reading list.

Delve into scholarly works that explore the evolution of Roman military tactics, strategies, and weaponry, from the early Republican period to the height of the empire. Learn about the ingenious engineering feats that enabled the Romans to build formidable fortifications, such as walls, forts, and siege engines, and gain insight into the organization and logistics of Roman military campaigns. Examine the role of specialized units, such as engineers, artillerymen, and cavalry, and their contributions to Roman military supremacy. Explore the development of iconic Roman weapons, armor, and military equipment, from the gladius and pilum to lorica segmentata and the iconic Roman siege engines. Our curated selection of scholarship offers a comprehensive overview of the technological innovations and tactical prowess that made the Roman army one of the most formidable military forces in antiquity.

General

• Coulston, J.C.N., ‘Military equipment and the archaeology of Roman conflict’, Carnuntum Jahrbuch 2005, 19-32.
• Driel-Murray, C. van (ed.), Roman Military Equipment: the Sources of Evidence. Proceedings of the Fifth Roman Military Equipment Conference, BAR Int. Ser. 476, Oxford, 1989.
• James, S., Rome and the Sword. How Warriors and Weapons Shaped Roman History, London, 2011.

Further Reading

• Baatz, D., ’Recent finds of ancient artillery’, Britannia 9, 1978, 1-17.
• Bishop, M.C., The Gladius: The Roman Short Sword, Oxford, 2016.
• Bishop, M.C., The Pilum: The Roman Heavy Javelin, Oxford, 2017.
• Bishop & Coulston 2006.
• Campbell, D.B., Greek and Roman Siege Machinery: 399 BC-AD 363, Oxford, 2003.
• Campbell, D.B., Greek and Roman Artillery: 399 BC-AD 363, Oxford, 2003.
• Campbell, D.B., Ancient Siege Warfare: Persians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans, 546-146 BC, Oxford, 2005.
• Campbell, D.B., Siege Warfare in the Roman World, Oxford, 2005.
• Campbell, D.B., Besieged: Siege Warfare in the Ancient World, Oxford, 2006.
• Campbell, J.B., ‘Teach yourself how to be a general’, JRS 77, 1987, 13-29.
• Cole, M., Legion Versus Phalanx: The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World, Oxford, 2018.
• Connolly 2011.
• Coulston, J.C., ‘Roman archery equipment’, in M.C. Bishop (ed.), The Production and Distribution of Roman Military Equipment. Proceedings of the Second Roman Military Equipment Research Seminar, BAR Int. Ser. 275, Oxford, 1985, 220-366.
• Coulston 1986; 1988; 1998.
• Coulston, J.C.N., ‘The archaeology of Roman conflict’, in P.W.M. Freeman & A. Pollard (ed.), Fields of Conflict: Progress and Prospect in Battlefield Archaeology, BAR Int. Ser. 958, Oxford, 2001, 23-49.
• Coulston, J.C.N., ‘By the sword united: Roman fighting styles on the battlefield and in the arena’, in Molloy, B. (ed.), The Cutting Edge: Studies in Ancient and Medieval Combat, Stroud, 2007, 34-51.
• Coulston, J.C.N., ‘Immortalising victory: votive weapons depositions in northern Europe and the Roman empire’, in A. Abegg-Wegg and A. Rau (ed.), Aktuelle Forschungen zu Kriegsbeuteopfern und Fürstengräbern im Barbaricum, Neumünster, 2008, 307-30.
• Cowan, R., Roman Legionary: 58 BC-AD 69, Oxford, 2003.
• Cowan, R., Imperial Roman Legionary: AD 161-284, Oxford, 2003.
• Cowan, R., Roman Legionary: AD 69-161, Oxford, 2013.
• Cowan, R., Roman Guardsman: 62 BC-AD 324, Oxford, 2014.
• D’Amato, R., Roman Military Clothing: AD 400-640, Oxford, 2005.
• D’Amato, R., Imperial Roman Naval Forces: 31 BC-AD 500, Oxford, 2009.
• D’Amato, R., Roman Centurions: 753-31 BC, Oxford, 2011.
• D’Amato, R., Roman Centurions: 31 BC-AD 500, Oxford, 2012.
• D’Amato, R., Republican Roman Warships: 509-27 BC, Oxford, 2015.
• D’Amato, R., Imperial Roman Warships: 27 BC-AD 193, Oxford, 2016.
• D’Amato, R., Roman Army Units in the Western Provinces: 31 BC-AD 195, Oxford, 2016.
• D’Amato, R., Imperial Roman Warships: 193-565 AD, Oxford, 2017.
• D’Amato, R., Roman Army Units in the Eastern Provinces: 31 BC-AD 195, Oxford, 2017.
• D’Amato, R., Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers: 112 BC-AD 192, Oxford, 2018.
• Davies, G., ‘Siege works, psychology and symbolism’, in G. Fincham, G. Harrison, R. Holland & L. Revell (ed.), TRAC 2000. Proceedings of the Tenth Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference, Oxford, 2001, 69-79.
• Fields, N., Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman: AD 14-193, Oxford, 2006.
• Fields, N., Roman Battle Tactics: 390-110 BC, Oxford, 2010.
• Fields, N., Early Roman Warrior: 753-321 BC, Oxford, 2011.
• Fields, N., Roman Republican Legionary: 298-105 BC, Oxford, 2012.
• Gilliver 1999.
• Goldsworthy 1996.
• James, S., Excavations at Dura-Europos 1928-1937. Final Report VII, The Arms and Armour and other Military Equipment, London, 2004.
• Loades, M., The Composite Bow, Oxford, 2016.
• Marsden, E.W., Greek and Roman Artillery, 2 vols, Oxford, 1969-71.
• Maxfield, V., The Military Decorations of the Roman Army, London, 1981.
• Robinson, H.R., The Armour of Imperial Rome, London, 1975.
• Sumner, G., Roman Military Clothing: 100 BC-AD 200, Oxford, 2002.
• Sumner, G., Roman Military Clothing: AD 200-400, Oxford, 2003.