This interesting book describes the fearsome Roman warriors located in modern-day Romania and Bulgaria – their "most depicted" opponents, thanks to the representations on Trajan's Column and the reliefs on Trajan's monument in Adamclisi.

The Dacians and the Getae, formidable warriors who could mobilize tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry under the leadership of a military aristocracy, posed a real threat to Rome's northeastern frontier. They inflicted numerous defeats on Rome, crossing the Danube to invade the province of Moesia and later stubbornly resisted counterattacks from their powerful mountain fortresses.

Historians believe that the Dacians and the Getae were essentially the same group of tribes during successive periods, related to the Thracian tribes from the lands south of the Carpathian Mountains, but their exact relationship in place and time is a subject of debate. The Dacians, as called by the Romans, are best known from their wars against the emperors Domitian in 85-89 AD and Trajan in 101-106 AD. At their largest expansion, the Dacians and the Getae defeated neighboring peoples, extending their influence from modern Slovakia to southern Ukraine, and it is believed that the effectiveness of their weapons prompted modifications in the armor of Roman infantry.

Although most direct ancient sources have been lost, several references remain to reconstruct an image of their society and culture. Using previously unpublished photographs of archaeological findings with colored illustrations showing the appearance and weapons of warrior kings, aristocrats, infantry, and cavalry, this detailed book draws from the latest literary and archaeological research to provide a comprehensive reference on these interesting warriors.