The ancient historian Polybius urged cautionregarding writing about places one has notbeen. Author Patrick Hunt agrees, and thisvolume on ancient battles is informed byhaving walked most of the battle sites andhaving studied archaeological materialassociated with each of them. Combiningexpertise in archaeology, geography, militaryhistory, and Classical studies, he provides afresh analysis of twelve conflicts of theancient world that shaped subsequent historyin the West. From the Late Bronze age to theLate Roman Empire and Early Medieval Era,this book examines in chronological order thefollowingBattle of Kadesh (1274 BCE)Battle of Ninevah (612 BCE)Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)Battle of Issus (333 BCE)Battle of Trebbia (218 BCE)Battle of Cannae (216 BCE)Battle of Cartagena (209 BCE)Battle of Alesia (52 BCE)Battle of Actium (31 BCE)Battle of Masada (73 CE)Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (451 CE)Battle of Tours (732 CE)Chapter formats for each battle battlemap, background, discussion of topography,major commanders, order ofbattle ofadversaries, battle chronology, unusualdecisions, tactics, outcomes, and conclusionsas to why each changed history.