roman army

The Roman Army

Alison Coffey &

Kierra Daves

Mr. Williams 1st Block

The early Roman army was very different from any of the later armies. They were first under the rule of the Etruscan kings and the large Greek phalanx was made for battle. Therefore many early Roman soldiers looked much like Greek hoplites.

A major moment in the history of Rome was when census was introduced. This was the counting of the people, this allowed the citizens to be grouped into five different classes. The people in the first class were the wealthiest and were the most highly equipped. The lesser classes would have little amour and the fifth class would be equipped with only a sling.

Marius was responsible for many of the reforms of the Roman army. Even though his were the final touches to a major process that had begun much earlier before. Rome and its army tended to resist any radical changes and it usually moved gradually into them.

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Another man who also made a great contribution to the running of the army, and the survival of Rome, was Scipio Africanus. It is said that he was present through the military disasters of Trebia and Cannae. This is when he discovered that the Roman army needed new tactics.


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Even though Scipio was only 25 years old he assumed command of the troops in Spain. He began to put his troops through rigorous training, and they were transformed into the best troops of their day.





Each soldier was armed with the basic defensive and offensive equipment. So that everyone would look uniformed, all of their clothing was military standard. The Lorica, Galea, and Scutum were the basic defensive tools.

The Lorica was a breastplate made to withstand frontal attack. The Galea was a helmet that was used to prevent deadly hits to the face and head. The Scutum, considered to be the most important of them all was a shield used to ward off attack in close battle and for many other protection reasons.

The Javelin and the Gladius were the two offensive tools. Javelins were made to bend once inside the enemy. It was made this way so that the enemy could not pull them out or reuse them for their own needs. The Gladius was a basic short sword that was good for close attacks.

The Roman Camp was known as a vital technique used in the military. They used the Roman Camp as a detailed strategy used to prevent surprise attacks. The Army marched all day until they found a spot to settle then the entire army would build a camp that ran as smooth as a well planned city.

It would take about 6 hours to build the camp. Constructing the walls was the first step to building the camp. Fossa which is also known as ditch and Agger which also known as wall is what was used to surround the camp.

They used Fossa and Agger because it made it harder to be attacked and it would slow their enemy down. The Camp was built in a square-like shape and the perimeter was made of a strong wall built up by a vallum which had walkways that were constantly guarded by centurions.

All of the soldiers were quartered inside tents that could hold eight men at a time called cantebernium. The General's tent was located in the middle of the camp and was called the Praetorium. Also in the center were the merchant tents.

roman army

Technology

early roman army

theroman camp

early roman soldiers

basic defensive tools

military standard

close battle

close attacks

history of rome