|
|
Carthage is now best known as Rome's enemy during the three Punic Wars, but for several centuries the city was the dominant power in the Western Mediterranean, with possessions across North Africa, on Sicily and Sardinia and in Spain.
I liked the decision not to include the Punic Wars in the selection of campaigns and battles. Instead we look at the conquest of Sardinia, one of the many Carthaginian battles on Sicily, and the costly Mercenary War, a revolt that came between the First and Second Punic Wars and threatened Carthage's position in Africa.
Inevitably over a period this lengthy Carthage's military changed in many ways. The Carthaginian element became less important as time went on, and Allied and Mercenary forces began to dominate. Here we get short sections each of the main contributors to the Carthaginian army, including their African, Spanish and Celtic troops, followed by a look at the arms and equipment of the army, once again with sections on the different types of mercenaries. There is also a very quick look at the Carthaginian navy, the most important part of her power for most of this period.
The author really knows his material, and that comes across in the text, which is readable but packed with information. The text is supported by a series of very good photographs. As always in an Osprey volume there are good colour plates, and I like the system used here, where the colour plates are spread through the text, and accompanied by their notes to the alternative with all of the colour plates in a single section and notes at the end of the book.
Chapters
Historical Reputation
Chronology
Organization
Tactics
Arms & Equipment
Clothing & Physical Appearance
The Navy
Selected Campaigns & Battles
Author: Andrea Salimbeti and Raffaele D'Amato
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 62
Publisher: Osprey
Year: 2014