Before becoming the masters of the Mediterranean world, the Romans had
first to conquer the Italian peninsula in a series of harsh conflicts
against its other varied and warlike residents. The outcome was no
foregone conclusion and it took the Romans half a millennium to secure
the whole of Italy.
Gabriele Esposito presents the armies that fought these wars, in which
the Roman military spirit and their famous legions were forged. He not
only follows the evolution of the Roman forces from the Regal Period to
the outbreak of the Second Punic War but also the forces of their
neighbors, rivals and enemies. The most notable of these, the Etruscans,
Samnites and the Italian Greeks are given particular attention but
others, such as the Celts and Ligures of the North and the warriors of
Sicily and Sardinia, are also considered. Details of the organization,
weapons, equipment and tactics of each army are described, while dozens
of beautiful color photos of reenactors show how these warriors looked
in the field.