Rome and the Enemy

by Mattern, Susan P.

• ISBN13: 9780520211667
• ISBN10: 0520211669
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-10-01
• Publisher: Univ of California Pr

Summary

What qualities and qualifications were important in choosing a Roman military commander? Here is the first-century tactician Onasander's confident answer to that question: a general should be chosen "not according to birth, as in the case of priests, nor according to wealth, as gymnasiarchs, but one who is intelligent, self-controlled, sober, frugal, used to hardship, thoughtful, indifferent to money, neither young nor old, and if possible also the father of children and eloquent, and with a good reputation." Military training and experience, knowledge of geography or of tactics and strategy, acquaintance with the fighting style of the enemy, and even bravery are startling by their absence. How did the Romans build and maintain one of the most potent and stable empires in the history of the world when they did not look for knowledge-ability and competence in a commanding officer? Who were the men who made and conducted Roman foreign policy, and what principles and purposes guided them?

Table of Contents

LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS	IX	(2)
PREFACE	XI	(4)
NOTE ON ABBREVIATIONS	XV	(2)
ROMAN EMPERORS, 31 B.C.-A.D. 238	XVII
CHAPTER 1 Introduction: The Decision-Making Elite	1	(23)
CHAPTER 2 The Image of the World	24	(57)
CHAPTER 3 Strategy	81	(42)
CHAPTER 4 Income and Expenditure	123	(39)
CHAPTER 5 Values	162	(49)
EPILOGUE Carthage Must Be Destroyed	211	(12)
REFERENCES	223	(22)
INDEX	245