Geneva C. (pebblesgmc) reviewed Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army on + 86 more book reviews
Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army by Donald W. Engels
This is a great book, full of facts, dates, maps, tables and a extensive bibliography. Engels does a wonderful job explaining what it took to move the Macedonian army from point "A" to point "B". I found one of Alexanders rules interesting NO carts, No Oxen. Oxen move slower than Horses mules and camels so they had no place in his army except maybe on the menu. Baggage also slows down the army, so no carts, if you couldn't carry it you didn't need it.
There is one point I will disagree with him on, one of the campaigns was recorded as having cover a great deal of ground in a very short time he said that it was impossible. I know that it is possible. Today endurance riders do 100 miles in 24 hours, and some of them finish the ride in 10 hours. These rides are done in mountains and very rough terrain. Wild horses have been documented to travel 30-40 miles in a day.
This is a great book, full of facts, dates, maps, tables and a extensive bibliography. Engels does a wonderful job explaining what it took to move the Macedonian army from point "A" to point "B". I found one of Alexanders rules interesting NO carts, No Oxen. Oxen move slower than Horses mules and camels so they had no place in his army except maybe on the menu. Baggage also slows down the army, so no carts, if you couldn't carry it you didn't need it.
There is one point I will disagree with him on, one of the campaigns was recorded as having cover a great deal of ground in a very short time he said that it was impossible. I know that it is possible. Today endurance riders do 100 miles in 24 hours, and some of them finish the ride in 10 hours. These rides are done in mountains and very rough terrain. Wild horses have been documented to travel 30-40 miles in a day.
