"This book looks at Rome's greatest generals, and at how and why they won their victories. At the same time it tells the story of Roman warfare, from the bitter struggle with Carthage and the brilliant Hannibal in the third century BC to the last desperate attempt to win back the Western Empire in the sixth century AD. It also traces the evolution of the Roman army and the Roman political system which directed it. Yet always the main focus rests on the commanders themselves and on their skills as leaders - on men such as Scipio Africanus, who combined apparent mysticism with iron determination, on Marius the tough soldiers' general, on Pompey the flamboyant 'Roman Alexander', and Caesar the aggressive and charismatic aristocrat."--Jacket.