This fascinating book explores the epic clash between two ancient
empires in a 250-year conflict which would define the boundaries of
the ancient world for more than seven centuries.
In 53 BC, Roman and Parthian forces collided in a confrontation that
would reshape the geopolitical map and establish a frontier between East
and West that would endure for the next 700 years. From the initial
clash at Carrhae through to the battle of Nisibis more than 250 years
later, Roman and Parthian forces fought a series of bloody campaigns for
mastery of the Fertile Crescent.
As Roman forces thrust ever deeper into the East, they encountered a
civilization unlike any they had crossed swords with before. Originating
in the steppes of Central Asia, the Parthians ruled a federated state
stretching from the Euphrates to the Indus. Although Rome's legions were
masters of the battlefield in the Mediterranean, the Parthians refused
to fight by the rules as Rome understood them. Harnessing the power of
the composite bow and their superior maneuverability, the Parthians'
mode of warfare focused exclusively on the horse. They inflicted a
bloody defeat on the legions at Carrhae and launched their own invasion
of Roman territory, countered only with great difficulty by Rome's
surviving forces. The Parthians were eventually thrown out, but neither
side could sustain a permanent ascendancy over the other and the
conflict continued.
Packed with stunning artwork, including battlescenes, maps, and
photographs, this title examines the conflict through the lens of three
key battles, revealing a clash between two armies alien to each other
not only in culture but also in their radical approaches to warfare.
