Defeat Of Rome In The East

I’ve just found something that looks interesting: a chapter from this new book as  a free pdf download (pdf no longer avaialble see below for alternative link to text). 

I’ve had a strong interest in Ancient Persia since attending Martin Charlesworth’s evening classes at Liverpool University in the early years of this decade and I’m always on the look out for up to date material like this.

The download contains all 34 pages of Chapter six which covers both the Roman and the Parthian armies before describing the battle in quite some detail.  An ideal freebie for wargamers!  I’ve only had time to skim it so far but it certainly looks worth a full read.

The book is $32.95 from Casemate USA.  It’s published by Pen & Sword in the UK at £15.99.  Amazon currently only lists US imports at silly prices.

The full title is “Defeat Of Rome In The East: Crassus, the Parthians, and the Disastrous Battle of Carrhae, 53 BC”. The publisher describes the book and author as:

“During the last stages of the Republic, Rome suffered its greatest military disaster since Hannibal’s invasion of Italy over 150 years earlier, though this defeat had more far-reaching consequences. While Rome was able to recover from its disaster at Cannae, it never did retrieve the results of Carrhae, a defeat that sealed the East as an impenetrable barrier to Roman ambition, and also signaled the demise of the Republic.”

“In this book Dr. Gareth Sampson, currently a tutor in ancient history at the University of Manchester, lays out not only the gruesome outcome of the battle but its immense consequences. First, unlike Alexander’s Greeks, who had marched all the way to the Indus, Rome was never again to challenge the civilizations beyond the Euphrates. Second, with Crassus dead, Caesar and Pompey engaged in a bloody civil war that would end the Republic and result in political dictatorship.
The author also provides an analysis of the mysterious Parthians, a people who vied with Rome as the most powerful empire on earth. Though their polity and records have long since disappeared, the Parthians’ mark on history is clear enough through their decisive victory over Rome at Carrhae.”

Well worth further exploration. In the meantime enjoy the free chapter.

Other useful links:

1. David Kennedy and Derrick Riley. Rome's Desert Frontier. University of Texas Press, Austin, 1990.  Chapters 1 & 2.