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Sowing the Dragon's Teeth: Byzantine Warfare in the Tenth Century (Dumbarton Oaks Studies) | 
 enlarge | Author: Eric Mcgeer
Publisher: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $26.94
You Save: $3.01 (10%)
New (11) Used (3) from $26.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 622383
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 405
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 5.9 x 1.1
ISBN: 0884022242
Dewey Decimal Number: 355.009495
EAN: 9780884022244
ASIN: 0884022242
Publication Date: November 30, 2008 (New: This Week)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: H20081028171222P
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Product Description
The military achievements of the emperors Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzimiskes, and Basil II brought the Byzantine Empire to the height of its power by the early eleventh century. This volume presents new editions and translations of two military treatises—the Praecepta militaria of Nikephoros Phokas and the revised version included in the Taktika of Nikephoros Ouranos—outlining the tactical system used by Byzantine armies in campaigns against Muslim forces in Cilicia and Syria. Products of experienced soldiers, the texts offer a realistic view of Byzantine warfare and reveal the sophistication of Byzantine military science. Eric McGeer places the treatises in military historical context; explores the factors that led the Byzantine army to fight as it did; and investigates morale, discipline, and leadership—all of which determined the difference between failure and success.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Ein absolutes Muss fuer jeden Byzanz-Fan!!! June 1, 2007
Das Werk "Sowing the Dragon's Teeth: Byzantine Warfare in the Tenth Century (Dumbarton Oaks Studies)" enthaelt die bisher einzig verfuegbare englische Uebersetzung der Precepta Militaria. Aufgrund seiner Bedeutung fuer die byzantinische Militaergeschichte ist diese Ausgabe somit ein absolutes Muss fuer jeden Byzanz-Fan.
Im Textteil wird dem griechischen Originaltext dabei jeweils auf der gegenueberliegenden Seite die englische Uebersetzung gegenueber gestellt. Fuer Leser, die - wie ich - dem Alt-Griechische nicht maechtig sind, ist dies meist nur bei Fachausdruecken von Vorteil, die sich nicht immer 100%-ig uebersetzen lassen. Zumal Begriffe im Laufe der Zeit durchaus die Bedeutung aendern koennen.
Darueberhinaus enthaelt das Buch analoge Textpassagen des spaeteren Taktika des Nikephoros Ouranos, die in gleicher Weise Griechisch/Englisch praesentiert werden.
Auch werden ausgesuchte Textpassagen mit aehnlich lautenden Passagen frueherer Werke verglichen und Unterschiede in der Nomenklatura aufgezeigt.
Der zweite Teil des Buches enthaelt umfangreiche Informationen zum geschichtlichen Kontext und die Interpretationen des Autors zu den Traktaten.
Obwohl neuere Autoren die Qualitaet der Uebersetzungen mitlerweile in Frage stellen und zum Teil zu gaenzlich anderen Schlussfolgerungen kommen, bildet doch das vorliegende Werk eine unerlaessliche Quelle and Informationen aus erster Hand.
Military Technology of the Later Roman Empire July 26, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The successful resistance of the Later Roman Empire aka the Byzantine Empire to the powerful and relentless assault of nascent Islam is not only the foundation stone of Western civilisation but also a great mystery. Why should Rome, weakened as it was by the ravages of hordes of Northern and Eastern barbarians and a series of dreadful plagues, have survived the onslaught when the its great and ancient rival, the Persian Empire was so quickly overwhelmed? The financial and military rescources of the early Caliphs were vastly greater than those at the command of the Byzantine Emperor and the military enthusiasm of his subjects was intense - witness the constant attacks by the large number of volunteer Jihad warriors from all over Islam who based themselves in what is now Syria.Part of the answer is to be found in this excellent book which affords the reader an insight into the detail of the military adaptations the Roman Empire made to cope with its dire problem. This scholarly, authentic account is an indispensible tool for those who wish to understand why it is that, to paraphrase Edward Gibbon, the inhabitants of medieval Oxford did not answer the Muezzin's call and worship Allah in the city of dreaming spires.
Well Done August 12, 2002
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The tanslation of the texts are well done, but that is not the best thing about this book. It is the commentary that follows the translations (about half the book). The author does an excellent job of describing, in modern language, the items detailed in the translations, providing examples from Byzantine warfare to illustrate. The reader finally gets a detailed impression of Byzantine warfare in the age of its greatest triumphs.
Were the Byzantines REALLY masters at war? April 21, 1999
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is an outstanding book of its' type. The translations are good and the transliterations very well done. It also provides a good background on not only the texts but also the events and institutions they discuss, making the book useful not only as a primary source, but also as a historical analysis in its own right. The commentary is also eminently readable and filled with information on not only the Byzantine army itself, but also those Asiatic enemies which it faced and bested. Honestly, I have yet to find a better text on this subject.
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