Baker - Spare No One: Mass Violence in Roman Warfare

Gabriel Baker received his PhD in history from the University of Iowa in 2016 and has taught in college and high school classrooms. He lives in the Chicago area with his family.

T his books genealogy stretches back to a quiet Iowa evening in the fall of 2008, when I sat paging through Livy and wondered aloud why the Roman legions destroyed so many cities. During the subsequent years of study and iteration, in the midst of frustrating dead-ends and revelatory breakthroughs, I have had incomparable mentors at every turn. I am particularly indebted to Constance Berman, Michael Moore, Kathleen Kamerick, Alexander Thein, Peter Green, and the late Carin Green. Special mention goes to Rosemary Moore, who has been an outstanding teacher and friend; this project simply would not exist without her wisdom and counsel.

It has been a pleasure to work with series editors Michael Barrett and Kyle Sinisi, who generously invited me to submit a book proposal, and whose comments, keen suggestions, and good humor improved my work immeasurably. I am, moreover, thankful for Susan McEachern, acquisitions editor, Barbara Stark, copyeditor, and the rest of the excellent team at Rowman & Littlefield, all of whom were patient and professional from start to finish. The anonymous reviewer also offered many astute comments, which contributed to the final manuscript. Certainly, any remaining errors and infelicities are my own doing.

My brilliant colleagues at the University of Iowa and the Nueva School created the stimulating, friendly, and generative intellectual environment that allowed this book to take root. I appreciate you all endlessly, but am especially obliged to Heather Wacha, Katherine Massoth, Yvonne Seale, Chris McFadin, Arta Khakpour, Brian Cropper, Davion Fleming, Patrick Berger, Dan Cristiani, Ali McLafferty, Barry Treseler, Sushu Xia, Christopher Miller, Wesley Patten, Jake Fauver, and Joel Colom-Mena. I have also benefited from many inquisitive, bright, and industrious students. Special gratitude goes to former students Natalie Hope and Noah Tavares for graciously reading and commenting on draft chapters, and to Om Gokhale and Ari Nazem for finding a talented illustrator to draw .

My friendships have been a reliable source of encouragement and energy, particularly on those days when I could not be bothered to write another word. (And several of you continue to ask about my work, ungrudgingly and with genuine curiosity, even though it does not make for pleasant conversationat all.) Caitlin Sapp, Kade Schemahorn, Tyler Phillippi, Kassia Shishkoff, Jeremy Cates, Jill Sutter, Naomi Hertsberg Rodgers, Derek Rodgers, Nate Staniforth, Katherine Staniforth, and Katie Curry made the last decade a joy, sticking around through those long stretches when I thoughtlessly dropped into a pile of books and out of existence.

Thank you also to my family, Bakers, Halls, Peacocks, Nashes, and Tates all, but especially to my parents, Joyce and Bill, and brother, Matt. The three of you have been consistently supportive, even when my work must have seemed hopelessly opaque and my explanations bordered on nonsensical.

Finally, my partner, Mandy Peacock, tirelessly accompanied me on this journey, reading drafts, listening to presentations, tramping up mountain-sides and over ruins, dodging goats, and motivating me through everything. With love and appreciation, as ever, this is dedicated to you.