Are there any books with detailed explanations of ancient battles? (context,tactics,strategy etc)

by RobBobGlove

I'm looking for something in depth, where the decisions of the generals/commanders are explained in depth. Anything pre gunpowder goes.

Iphikrates

If you are interested in the battles of the Classical Greeks, a very relevant book has literally just come out: Owen Rees' Great Battles of the Classical Greek World. This looks in detail at the context and course of some selected battles and sieges. The book benefits from picking some less well-known engagements (like the battle of Olpai) in order to explore Greek tactics in depth, rather than just going with big-name clashes (like Marathon or Thermopylai) about which there is little left to say.

Some other books, while not being specifically about battles, have done a decent job picking apart the course of major engagements and the principles behind Greek battle plans:

  • J.K. Anderson, Military Theory and Practice in the Age of Xenophon (1970)

  • J.F. Lazenby, The Spartan Army (1985, reprinted 2012)

  • J.E. Lendon, Soldiers and Ghosts (2005)

  • S.M. Rusch, Sparta at War (2011)