Jonathan Roth (2)

Well, what the title promises really; a study of what can be known or inferred about Roman logistical arrangements during the time period covered. If you're interested in that sort of thing, you'd probably like it. And it you're not interested in that sort of thing, it will probably bore you to tears.

Notable for ancient-logistics nerds is that he takes issue with the widely cited numbers of Engels' Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army regarding how long an army could show more operate without replenishing supplies. According to Roth, Engels is excessively pessimistic because he overestimates the caloric requirements of ancient soldiers, who were on average older and smaller than the Vietnam-era Americans Engels bases his calculations on. He also thinks that the Romans would have been more willing to work their pack-animals to death or at least ill health than Engels allows for.

(An aspect neither seems to address head on is that even if you load your mules more heavily than is good for them at the start of an expedition, the load will fall as the men and animals consume the supplies. Presumably the load a mule can carry for a few days without lasting harm is higher than that it can carry indefinitely.) show less