Reddit reviews The Roman Army at War 100 BC - AD 200 (Oxford Classical Monographs)

The class ended its reading with the conclusion of the British campaign; but that was the point at which all of Gaul rose up behind him... so I finished it in English. I was never good at getting the right ending of anything in Latin, and all the pronouns and tenses are entirely within the endings. Knowing the Latin roots of words, though, that stuck with me. And the slide shows our classics teacher had of ancient roman archeological sites were incredible. He visited Italy and Greece every summer, and made his own slides. The stories from antiquity he told with the slides made classical history come alive for me in a way that enriched my life.

As for books: I'd recommend reading Caesar's book. It's a cunning piece of pro-ceasar propaganda, but the military details are quite accurate, because one of the primary ways to become a Roman citizen was to serve in the army, and this portion of the citizenry was the memoir's target audience. If you're looking for a more scholarly work on the Roman Army, this is the one I read in college for a War & Ancient Society class. It has a very high level of detail, to match its very high price, but it is also quite good.

Specifically on Roman warfare and campaigns? It depends on which campaigns and what period of warfare! :D However, I'll suggest Adrian Goldsworthy's (In general, really. He's a FANTASTIC writer) Roman Warfare, The Complete Roman Army, and The Roman Army at War for some really great books :) If you're looking for more specific wars or campaigns, feel free to specify!

I would recommend, "Roman Army at War" by Adrian Goldsworthy. I'm only half way through but it really is fascinating and very rigorous. http://www.amazon.com/The-Roman-Army-War-100/dp/0198150903

While Goldsworthy is a reputable military historian, that book is Goldsworthy writing pop history. His actual scholarly book is The Roman Army at War, and I think it's still the go-to handbook on the Imperial Roman army, at least in English. Here's a review.

Goldsworthy focuses on the battles though, which should be fine for tactics and drills, but we can probably complement G. with Roth, The Logistics of the Roman Army at War. Here is a favorable review by Goldsworthy himself. I don't know for sure, but I suspect the similarity in the titles indicates Roth hoped to fill a gap in Goldsworthy. Roth looks at stuff like time taken to construct and break camp, secure, move, and cook food, etc. For instance, he was my source for discussing the soldier's diet here.

Neither book is too difficult to read, and they will get you a lot further than In the Name of Rome.

The books that really shaped my 'model' of how it wall went down are:

Romans: The Roman Army at War 100BC - 200AD

Greek: Greek Warfare: Myths and Realities

I have many books on SPQR. Pre-occupation Iron age and the cusp of occupation and revolt i enjoy.
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A few of my favourites...

Cassivellaunus v. Cesar

Togodumnus

Cunobelin

Caratacus and brothers...

Prasutagus /Boudica

A favourite I do not see mentioned is The Roman Army at War 100 BC - AD 200 (Oxford Classical Monographs) Adrian Goldsworthy.

https://www.amazon.com/Roman-Army-War-100-Monographs/dp/0198150903/ref=mp_s_a_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1541525660&sr=8-31&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=roman+army&dpPl=1&dpID=51Yjtp7MmtL&ref=plSrch

I believe you can get a reissue. I have the original hardcover, id be interested to know if there are any changes. Its an incredibly thorough, detailed and fantastic.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Army-War-100-Monographs/dp/0198150903

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/096834459700400101?journalCode=wiha

These two mostly sum his viewpoint (and mine) on how ancient warfare worked.