Need some book advices
Re: Need some book advices
Has this book about my favourite period already been mentioned?
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- Field of Glory 2
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Re: Need some book advices
That one should move straight to the very top of the list.
Richard Bodley Scott
Re: Need some book advices
Absolutely! If you only get one book on the period, get that one. It covers all you need to know, organisations, tactics, important battles, dress and equipment. It also discusses where the information comes from, ie; original literary sources, archaeological finds etc.
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Re: Need some book advices
Wow, high praise indeed from the master! The Landmark Herodotus just got bumped into second place...rbodleyscott wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 8:05 am That one should move straight to the very top of the list.
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Re: Need some book advices
Herodotos is a good read, but if it is the Achaemenid Persian army you are going to read about in Herodotos, you can bump him down to 3rd place, and put "The Achaemenid Persian Army", also by Duncan Head (Montvert publications) in 2nd place.76mm wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:56 amWow, high praise indeed from the master! The Landmark Herodotus just got bumped into second place...rbodleyscott wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 8:05 am That one should move straight to the very top of the list.
Duncan's two books are a serious study of the period, with much more specific information than most of the "Coffee Table Book" style history-lite books that have been written before or since.
Richard Bodley Scott
Re: Need some book advices
That's good to know. I stopped buying the Osprey books long ago because other than the pretty pictures most of them contained very little useful info. Thanks for the recommendation.rbodleyscott wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:58 am Duncan's two books are a serious study of the period, with much more specific information than most of the "Coffee Table Book" style history-lite books that have been written before or since.
re Herodotus, not really interested in the Persian army at all, just generally enjoy reading the historical authors.
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Re: Need some book advices
No need to tell me. I have the book since 1995 or so, but it´s every bit as good as you say!Paul59 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:42 amAbsolutely! If you only get one book on the period, get that one. It covers all you need to know, organisations, tactics, important battles, dress and equipment. It also discusses where the information comes from, ie; original literary sources, archaeological finds etc.
Definitely the first book on the period to read, imo.
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- Major-General - Jagdtiger
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Re: Need some book advices
Now that we're going Medieval:
Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066
Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300
Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291
by Ian Heath
All are readily available and excellent wargaming resources.
Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066
Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300
Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291
by Ian Heath
All are readily available and excellent wargaming resources.
SnuggleBunny's Field of Glory II / Medieval / Pike and Shot / Sengoku Jidai MP Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjUQy6dEqR53NwoGgjxixLg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjUQy6dEqR53NwoGgjxixLg
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Re: Need some book advices
Ok here are my two cents.
For the Byzantine Army (except the book you have)
1) J. Haldon, Byzantine Praetorians. An Administrative, institutional and social survey of the opsikion and tagmata c. 580-900
2) J. Haldon, Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World 565-1204
3)J. Haldon, State, Army and Society in Byzantium. Approaches to Military, Social and Administrative History, 6th-12th Centuries
4)J. Haldon, Byzantine Warfare
5) M. Decker, The byzantine art of war
6) W. Treadgold, Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081
7)Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests
8)S. Kyirakidis, Warfare in Late Byzantium 1204-1453
9) M. Bartusis, The Late Byzantine Army. Arms and Society 1204-1453
10) J. Birkenmmeier, The Development of the Komnenian Army 1081-1180
For various Medieval Arab Armies:
1)H. Kennedy, The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in Early Islamic State
2)Y. Lev (ed.), War and Society in the Eastern Mediterranean, 7th-15th Centuries
3)Landau-Tasseron, Features of the Pre-Conquest Muslim Army in the Time of Muhammad (article).
4)B. Beshir, Fatimid Military Organization (article)
5) M. Gordon, The breaking of a thousand Swords. A History of the Turkish military on Samarra.
6)D. Hill, The Mobility of Arab Armies in the Early Conquests
7)R. Hoyland, In God’s path. The Arab conquests and the creation of an Islamic Empire
8)D. Pipes, Slave soldiers and Islam The Genesis of a Military System
9)W. Hamblin, The Fatimid Army During the Early Crusades
For Crusader era warfare, I really love this one,
D. Nicolle, Crusader Warfare (2 vols). Of course everything from J. France is a must-read too.
For the Byzantine Army (except the book you have)
1) J. Haldon, Byzantine Praetorians. An Administrative, institutional and social survey of the opsikion and tagmata c. 580-900
2) J. Haldon, Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World 565-1204
3)J. Haldon, State, Army and Society in Byzantium. Approaches to Military, Social and Administrative History, 6th-12th Centuries
4)J. Haldon, Byzantine Warfare
5) M. Decker, The byzantine art of war
6) W. Treadgold, Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081
7)Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests
8)S. Kyirakidis, Warfare in Late Byzantium 1204-1453
9) M. Bartusis, The Late Byzantine Army. Arms and Society 1204-1453
10) J. Birkenmmeier, The Development of the Komnenian Army 1081-1180
For various Medieval Arab Armies:
1)H. Kennedy, The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in Early Islamic State
2)Y. Lev (ed.), War and Society in the Eastern Mediterranean, 7th-15th Centuries
3)Landau-Tasseron, Features of the Pre-Conquest Muslim Army in the Time of Muhammad (article).
4)B. Beshir, Fatimid Military Organization (article)
5) M. Gordon, The breaking of a thousand Swords. A History of the Turkish military on Samarra.
6)D. Hill, The Mobility of Arab Armies in the Early Conquests
7)R. Hoyland, In God’s path. The Arab conquests and the creation of an Islamic Empire
8)D. Pipes, Slave soldiers and Islam The Genesis of a Military System
9)W. Hamblin, The Fatimid Army During the Early Crusades
For Crusader era warfare, I really love this one,
D. Nicolle, Crusader Warfare (2 vols). Of course everything from J. France is a must-read too.
For Byzantium!!
Re: Need some book advices
These books are fantastic, even better are Ian Heath's other books for the Wargames Research Group; "Armies of the Middle Ages" volumes 1 and 2.SnuggleBunnies wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:54 pm Now that we're going Medieval:
Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066
Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300
Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291
by Ian Heath
All are readily available and excellent wargaming resources.
The Crusades title was rather old (published 1978), and perhaps not quite as detailed as the Feudal Europe and Middle Ages books, but an updated and expanded 2nd edition was released in 2019. I only found out about the new edition yesterday, but I have ordered it, and will let you all know how it differs from the original.
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- Major-General - Jagdtiger
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Re: Need some book advices
The Armies of the Middle Ages books are great, but they are unfortunately not available for reasonable prices right now as far as I can tell. I only have the second edition of Armies and Enemies of the Crusades, so I couldn't tell you of any edition differences.Paul59 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 9:36 pm These books are fantastic, even better are Ian Heath's other books for the Wargames Research Group; "Armies of the Middle Ages" volumes 1 and 2.
The Crusades title was rather old (published 1978), and perhaps not quite as detailed as the Feudal Europe and Middle Ages books, but an updated and expanded 2nd edition was released in 2019. I only found out about the new edition yesterday, but I have ordered it, and will let you all know how it differs from the original.
For those who are interested, Heath also wrote/illustrated two volumes of Armies of the Sixteenth Century, with one for Meso/Colonial America, and one for Britain and the Netherlands. I can also heartily recommend his five volumes on the 'native' armies of Asia in the Armies of the Nineteenth Century series.
SnuggleBunny's Field of Glory II / Medieval / Pike and Shot / Sengoku Jidai MP Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjUQy6dEqR53NwoGgjxixLg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjUQy6dEqR53NwoGgjxixLg
Re: Need some book advices
With the Crusades book being released in a second edition last year maybe there is hope that the Middle Ages volumes will be reprinted in the future. In the meantime, they are often available on eBay, but they are normally quite pricey as you say.SnuggleBunnies wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2020 12:03 am
The Armies of the Middle Ages books are great, but they are unfortunately not available for reasonable prices right now as far as I can tell. I only have the second edition of Armies and Enemies of the Crusades, so I couldn't tell you of any edition differences.
Field of Glory II Scenario Designer - Age of Belisarius, Rise of Persia, Wolves at the Gate and Swifter than Eagles.
Field of Glory II Medieval Scenario Designer.
FOGII TT Mod Creator
Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Tournament Scenario Designer.
Field of Glory II Medieval Scenario Designer.
FOGII TT Mod Creator
Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Tournament Scenario Designer.
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- Major - Jagdpanther
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Re: Need some book advices
I think the Ian Heath books are excellent (he also did 'A Wargamers Guide to the Crusades' as well) and well worth having. I'm interested to know if the 2nd Edition of A & A of the Crusades is significantly different to the 1st.
I'd also the second the suggestion re David Nicolle's books (although I find his style at times can be a little off putting) and J France.
For warfare in western medieval Europe I'd be inclined to suggest that -
J France 'Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades' and
J F Verbruggen 'The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages'
are both almost indispensable
regards
Ben
I'd also the second the suggestion re David Nicolle's books (although I find his style at times can be a little off putting) and J France.
For warfare in western medieval Europe I'd be inclined to suggest that -
J France 'Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades' and
J F Verbruggen 'The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages'
are both almost indispensable
regards
Ben
Re: Need some book advices
For the French readers, about the Knights :
J. Flori, La Chevalerie, 2013
(very interesting, very cheap !)
J. Flori, La Chevalerie, 2013
(very interesting, very cheap !)
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Re: Need some book advices
Oh thanks for thatAthos1660 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2020 1:46 pm For the French readers, about the Knights :
J. Flori, La Chevalerie, 2013
(very interesting, very cheap !)
For Byzantium!!
Re: Need some book advices
If I remember correctly, Matrix/Slitherine Store used to offer some or all of the Field of Glory Gaming Companion series separately as ebooks. They cover many centuries and regions. I have only Empires of the Dragon (written by RBS, assisted by Duncan Head, among others). It is good and remarkably instructive.
I would like to have more of the series but cannot find them in the store.
Are they still available, separately or included with old or new Field of Glory products?
If not, can they be made available again?
I would like to have more of the series but cannot find them in the store.
Are they still available, separately or included with old or new Field of Glory products?
If not, can they be made available again?
Re: Need some book advices
If you're interested, there are also :NikiforosFokas wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2020 2:30 pmOh thanks for thatAthos1660 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2020 1:46 pm For the French readers, about the Knights :
J. Flori, La Chevalerie, 2013
(very interesting, very cheap !)
- an interesting section about the Middle Ages in this great book about cavalry : Fr. Chauviré, Histoire de la cavalerie.
- a book about Medieval warfare I haven't read yet but is praised : Ph. Contamine, La Guerre au Moyen Age, 2003
- a pdf file about artillery by the Musée du Génie with a bibliography
- a website about medieval architecture with books and articles written by the author of the website, Jean Mesqui.
I only know of the Field of Glory: Renaissance Core Rules pdf on Steam.JPJ wrote: ↑Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:37 am If I remember correctly, Matrix/Slitherine Store used to offer some or all of the Field of Glory Gaming Companion series separately as ebooks. They cover many centuries and regions. I have only Empires of the Dragon (written by RBS, assisted by Duncan Head, among others). It is good and remarkably instructive.
I would like to have more of the series but cannot find them in the store.
Are they still available, separately or included with old or new Field of Glory products?
If not, can they be made available again?
Re: Need some book advices
Thanks for the pointer!Athos1660 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 19, 2020 5:50 amI only know of the Field of Glory: Renaissance Core Rules pdf on Steam.JPJ wrote: ↑Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:37 am If I remember correctly, Matrix/Slitherine Store used to offer some or all of the Field of Glory Gaming Companion series separately as ebooks. They cover many centuries and regions. I have only Empires of the Dragon (written by RBS, assisted by Duncan Head, among others). It is good and remarkably instructive.
I would like to have more of the series but cannot find them in the store.
Are they still available, separately or included with old or new Field of Glory products?
If not, can they be made available again?
Does anyone know about the other ebooks in the series?