The Thracians 700Bc - Ad 46 (Men-at-Arms Series)

Rating:
Summary: Fine book!
Review: Although some people may complain that this book is just a brief overview (as is usually the case with most Osprey titles), I believe the author was still successful in describing general Thracian history, focusing on such details as their dress, weapons, troop types, and tactics. Color plates are good, showing fine examples of Thracian warriors in their colorful dress. An important book for those interested in ancient warfare, especially wargamers.

Rating:
Summary: ...they were of great height, with glitering shields...
Review: First of all, I have to commend Osprey for issuing this title before they tackled such better known peoples of antiquity as the Etruscans, the Phoenicians and the Hitites. I am sure the publishing of this booklet was due to the great success of the "Thracian Gold" travelling exhibition. It is still a welcome addition of starter kits for anyone interested in military history.
Cristopher Webber's text contains some interesting portions on the dress, armour and tactics of this people - something very difficult to find in a compiled form elsewhere. His historical outline, though, suffers from the same biased attitude that most of the historical sources are soaked in. The ancient Greek and Roman writers considered all non-Greek or non-Roman peoples as "barbarian" (one only has to read their descriptions of the Celts) and their lopsided descriptions of those peoples can hardly be taken at face value - especially if the nation in question had no written language. As a comparison, Osprey's Elite Series "The Huns and the Nomad People" is so much more objective in its treatment of its subject! It is surprising to me that Webber would not incorporate a little critical analysis of the ancient writers, apart from him ommitting such facts as the Thracian origins of Spartacus and the Roman Emperor Maximinus Thrax. I believe a "chronological outline", like some other Osprey titles, would have been more appropriate. For a more detailed information on the history I suggest other books, like Alexander Fol's "Ancient Thrace" - unfortunately a very difficult book to find (I bought mine in Bulgaria).
Angus McBride's illustrations are, of course, some of the best in the Osprey line-up. One thing I cannot understand is why he almost always have to depict the figures in a battle scene, making it difficult to exhibit more detail. I have always assumed that the color plates are an illustration rather than art work (although this doesn't mean they can't be artistic). Once again I would have to refer you to his splendid plate A in the Osprey's "The Greeks". Of course, my last gripe is that this format only allows for a maximum of 3-4 figures per plate - a far cry from the wealth of information in other Osprey titles.