The first ever survey of Roman military and civil intelligence; examines in detail the operation of Roman intelligence gathering from shaky beginnings to a high level of efficiency, and shows who gathered it and for whom. 'Austin and Rankov have done an admirable job in filling a serious gap in the study of Roman history: a comprehensive study of how Roman intelligence worked.' - Bryn Mawr Classical Review 'Through the evidence of literary and epigraphic material, the authors make this a fascinating and readable discussion of the more shadowy parts of the Roman bureaucracy.' - Book News ' Exploratio considers six centuries of Roman military and political intelligence, based on the literary and epigraphic evidence, with exemplary care and in meticulous detail.' - Greece & Rome 'In an age when the humanities and Classics so often follow models borrowed from other branches of study, it will be comforting to note that anciant historians have produced a serious work in a generally neglected field. ... Austin and Rankov... in spite of the pausity of the available sources, they have succeeded in producing an interesting, professional, and comprehensive piece of work. - Journal of Hellenic Studies vol 118 98 N. B. Rankov, N. J. E. Austin