Rome's rise to empire is often said to have owed much to the efficiency and military skill of her armies and their technological superiority over barbarian enemies. But just how 'advanced' was Roman military equipment? What were its origins and how did it evolve? The authors of this book have gathered a wealth of evidence from all over the Roman Empire-excavated examples as well as pictorial and documentary sources-to present a picture of what range of equipment would be available at any given time, what it would look like and how it would function. They examine how certain pieces were adopted from Rome's enemies and adapted to particular conditions of warfare prevailing in different parts of the Empire. They also investigate in detail the technology of military equipment and the means by which it was produced, and discuss wider questions such as the status of the soldier in Roman society. Both the specially prepared illustrations and the text have been completely revised for the second edition of this detailed and authoritative handbook, bringing it up to date with the very latest research. It illustrates each element in the equipment of the Roman soldier, from his helmet to his boots, his insignia, his tools and his weapons. This book will appeal to archaeologists, ancient and military historians as well as the generally informed and inquisitive reader.

M. C. Bishop is a writer, publisher and archaeologist specialising in the study of military equipment. In 1983 he organised and published the first Roman Military Equipment Seminar. He edits and publishes Arma, the newsletter of the Roman Military Equipment Conference and the Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies. J. C. N Coulston is a lecturer in the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews. He has carried out fieldwork on Roman sculpture and Roman military artefacts all over Europe and the Levant and has published numerous articles on Roman sculpture and military equipment.