Examines 18 ancient army systems from the armies of Sumer and Akkad to the Ottomans. Gabriel examines 18 ancient army systems, from the armies that advanced the objectives of the Sumer and Akkad empires to the Ottomans. In each instance he examines the organizational structure and weapons employed; since armies are first and foremost societal institutions more than technical devices, he analyzes the societal culture that produced each army in order to highlight the degree to which cultural values and imperatives shaped the form and application of military force. Third, the tactical doctrines and specific operational capabilities of each army are analyzed to explain how certain technical limitations and societal/cultural imperatives affected the operational capabilities of ancient armies. Finally, he makes cross-cultural and cross-historical connections in order to ground the analysis in the larger historical context that was the ancient world. In addition to the 18 studies, Gabriel provides an introductory overview of war in the ancient world, from 2500 B.C.E. to 1453 C.E. and an examination of the evolution of modern warfare, from 1453 to 2002 C.E. An important and readable resource for scholars, students, and the general public interested in warfare and the ancient world, from Sumer, Egypt, and Rome to India, China, and Japan.