Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army

Alexander and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army is an excellent work on the often under appreciated, yet critically vital, aspect of warfare: logistics.The book begins by outlining the basics concerning how to move an army in the ancient world and the difficulties of keeping a large army supplied as it moves along a campaign. After establishing the basic information and tools of analysis, the author then delves into Alexander’s campaigns following his progress chronologically.The heart of the book revolves around the big question of how Alexander moved his army so swiftly yet with so little loss despite the wide variety of geographical locations he passed through on his epic campaign. The short answer: planning and intelligence. For example, it is well known that Alexander marched though Asia Minor along the coast to deprive the Persian fleet of bases. This study expands upon that notion pointing out that Alexander began his march before the Persian fleet could be supplied due to harvest times. Thus, Alexander put the Persians at a disadvantage right off the bat capturing key ports before the Persians could even lift a finger.Another part of the book that was really interesting was the comparison between the descriptions of the lands Alexander marched through in the ancient sources with more modern ones. Interestingly, the modern sources corroborated what the ancient writers noted in terms of difficulties and challenges in the various regions.The author was also very thorough in his examination of the ancient sources and his footnotes supporting his analysis are practically voluminous. Supporting all this he also made pertinent references to some modern campaigns to illustrate his points showing the vital importance of logistics regardless of the era. All this was enhanced with good maps.One section I found very interesting was the assessment of Alexander's march through the Gedrosian Desert. This has long been a point of debate and the author suggests an interesting answer to this age old question.I have studied Alexander for many years now and when I finished this book it only increased my admiration and respect for this legendary leader. This work also further confirmed that Philip and Alexander have to be the most successful father and son military leaders of all time.I highly recommend this book to not only those who have an interest in Alexander but also anyone with a general interest in logistics and those interested in the issues of supply during ancient times will find much to contemplate as well.

This is a very short yet it is a very good book. The reputation of Alexander the Great as a military commander has never been in doubt. However this book explains just how great he was.Most treatments of his campaigns focus on the key battles and his use of the phalanx and cavlary to achieve victory. However Engels makes the point that the conquest of Persia was a potentially very difficult campaign. Generals such as Crassus, Antony and Julian were to fail despite having large well disicplined armies.Engles shows that to maintain an army in the field in ancient times was difficult. Armies consumed food and water at a prodigous rate and all land transport was ineffecient. The remote location of Persia combined with its arid agriculture over time were its greatest protection.Alexander had to think carefully about every stage of his campaign so that he could obtain food and keep is army in the field.The key to this was initially water transport. Ships were the one effecient means of transport in the ancient world. Persia however at the time of Alexander had a large navy.Alexander calculated every move to perfection.Firstly he made his own men carry their equipment rather than using servants or camp followers as was the norm with Greek armies. This made his army quick moving and lessened the mouths to feed. He then started his campaign before the Persians could use thier harvest to provision a fleet. Alexander was able to move his army through Anatolia siezing all the Persian ports and to put their navy out of buisness. He was then able to use his navy to supply his forces.This book is masterful in explaining the campaign and it reveals the depth of Alexanders genius and the care of his planning. Invaluable for anyone interested in the area.

Alexander's logistics management during his unprecedented (and unmatched) military campaign is something that's easily overlooked considering the reams of books about virtually everything else about Alexander. But this seemingly mundane subject matter turns out to be one of the most fascinating aspects of Alexander's truly multi-faceted genius. This book provides a great insight in layman's terms of what it was like to manage a campaigning army of approximately 50,000 plus followers (engineers, doctors, cooks, entertainers, scientists, craftsmen, servants, etc.) of around another 15,000 people and at least 10,000 horses and mules. It's easy to just throw down the numbers and do the calculations, but it's another thing to imagine the logistics involved in procuring the food, water, and other resources to keep the army moving at a swift pace of 35~40 miles per day.Engels does a great job of helping the reader visualize the enormity of the logistics problems involved and how they were tackled by Alexander as he and his army marched through Asia. Alexander was a very hands-on kind of a leader who was involved in the minute details of logistics operations when necessary but did so without getting into micro-managing those underneath him. Alexander knew every aspect of his army inside and out and lived like a common solider, which is what truly endeared his soldiers to him with fervent loyalty. This book provides great insight into an aspect of Alexander that some will ponder about but never bother to delve into. How did Alexander lead such a huge army and a supporting contingent over 22,000 miles of extremely difficult terrain and environments? This book goes a long way in answering that question.

Recomendo.

Donald Engels provides a useful counterweight the the numerous military strategic accounts of Alexander's conquests.He deals with the neglected subject of ancient world military logistics and concludes that 1) Alexander's campaign routes and timing were logistically determined 2) when a logistic plan failed, it could destroy an army as surely as a military defeat, an example being the loss of 3/4 of his army in the Gedrosian desert when the Monsoon winds halted supply by sea.The essence of Alexander's strategy was the fast movement of troops with the smallest baggage train possible, achieved by his soldiers carrying much of their own equipment and being accompanied by horses and mules with supplies.The book provides interesting detailed calculations, showing that there was little margin for error. The army that crossed the Hellespont comprised of 65.000 personnel plus cavalry and pack animals that had a combined grain requirement (not counting water or fodder) of 269.000 lbs per day that had to be carried, delivered by river or sea or drawn from an extensive area of rich agricultural land after a harvest, facts which greatly determined when and where Alexander could proceed and how he had to divide his forces.

This is the stuff I like; it all comes down to the little things; answers questions that we take for granted. This book is right in my wheelhouse. For others maybe not. Scratches that itch.

It's not apparent to the history reader, or historical / fantasy reader, the part that logistics play in the events described. Histories tend to focus on the events and novels can be obviously more fantastical the the author realises. There are books on the Roman Army but others are few and far between. This tells you how much grain and water the troops need, and how much grain, hay and water the horses need. Not much could be carried with the army, and horses need weekends off as well. And excellent read.

This is not your usual history book. The story of Alexander's tactical and political conquests is only the background for this account. In stead, Engels relates the logistical challenges facing Alexander. I was taken aback by the insight that in an army in those days could only physically carry a very few days' worth of food and water.Engels goes into some detail about how Alexander solved the supply problems at each major stage of his journey across Europe and Asia.It is worth reading if you are interested in this niche and illuminating take on a famous story.