MAPPING ROMAN POWER

Coby, Paul

Forts And Roman Strategy: A New Approach And Interpretation [Illustrated First Edition] [Roman Britain And Military Cartography]

South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military, 2022.
MILITARY HISTORY & ROMAN STUDIES
WHAT IF THE ROMANS LEFT A STRATEGY MAP HIDDEN IN THEIR FORTS?

Paul Coby presents a bold reinterpretation of Roman military strategy through a comprehensive analysis of forts, fortifications, and campaign landscapes. Rather than treating Roman installations as isolated archaeological sites, Coby develops a data-driven system for recording and mapping military infrastructure, arguing that fort placement reveals coherent strategic planning across Roman Britain.

Using major campaigns in Wales and Scotland as case studies, the work combines archaeology, military history, cartography, and digital analysis to challenge longstanding debates over whether Rome operated through grand strategy or simply reacted to local circumstances. The result is a fresh contribution to Roman frontier studies supported by extensive visual evidence and original interpretation.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Publisher's original illustrated glossy boards. Quarto, approximately 10 inches tall. xvii, 257 pages with bibliography and index. Profusely illustrated throughout with full-color maps, charts, diagrams, tables, and cartographic reconstructions. Printed on coated stock.

CONDITION: New. No Flaws or Blemishes; Gift Quality. No ownership marks noted. Appears unread or lightly handled. Corners sharp; binding square. A Fine example.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
This volume represents a modern interdisciplinary approach to Roman military studies, combining archaeological evidence with digital mapping techniques. It addresses one of the most enduring questions in Roman historiography: whether Roman expansion reflected an overarching strategic vision or a series of localized responses to frontier challenges. The work contributes to ongoing discussions surrounding Roman grand strategy and frontier management while offering practical analytical tools for future research.

The central innovation of Coby's study is the development of a systematic framework for analyzing Roman forts as components of larger operational networks. By integrating fort size, location, chronology, garrison strength, and geographic positioning, the author reconstructs patterns of conquest, occupation, and frontier control. Particular attention is given to the campaigns of Scapula, Frontinus, Agricola, and the Antonine frontier, illustrating how military installations functioned within broader strategic objectives.

Lavishly illustrated maps and analytical diagrams allow readers to visualize Roman military penetration routes, supply networks, frontier systems, and occupation patterns. The methodology is designed not only for Roman Britain but as a model applicable throughout the Roman Empire.

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
+++ Proposes a new analytical system for interpreting Roman forts and fortifications
+++ Examines major Roman campaigns in Wales and Scotland
+++ Addresses the debate surrounding Roman grand strategy
+++ Features extensive full-color maps and military cartography
+++ Integrates archaeology, military history, and digital analysis
+++ Includes bibliography and index for research use

SUBJECTS: Roman Britain; Roman Army; Roman Fortifications; Roman Strategy; Military Archaeology; Roman Wales; Roman Scotland; Frontier Studies; Ancient Warfare; Historical Cartography; Paul Coby; Pen & Sword Military.

Item #22066
ISBN: 1526772108

Price: $45.00