THE TROJAN WAR AS MILITARY HISTORY

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Assumes that the Iliad, notwithstanding the fantastical/mythological elements (the involvement of gods and demigods), is the earliest detailed description of warfare we have. Stripping away the myths, it analyses the epic and combines it with other textual and archaeological evidence to produce a coherent narrative of the conflict and of Bronze Age warfare in the Aegean.

Presents a detailed analysis possible of Mycenaean Greek armies -- their composition and organization, the warriors' weapons, armor and tactics, and those of their enemies. Finds sophisticated combined-arms forces blending massed infantry with missile troops and chariots, employing open battle, deception and special operations in what amounted to total war. The author's detailed examination of the mechanics of Bronze Age combat is enriched by his use of insights from experimental archaeology using replica equipment. Also covers the minutiae of heroic duels and the geopolitical relationship of the Mycenaean Greeks with their rivals across the Aegean.