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Western civilization University high school 2011-12. ROMAN MILITARY. The Roman Military. difficult to estimate size 700,000 soldiers? 3.5 million? almost entirely male. The Roman Military. early Rome: soldiers = citizens doing civic duty seasonal campaigns against enemies
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Western civilizationUniversity high school2011-12 ROMAN MILITARY
The Roman Military • difficult to estimate size • 700,000 soldiers? 3.5 million? • almost entirely male
The Roman Military • early Rome: soldiers = citizens doing civic duty • seasonal campaigns against enemies • later Rome: soldiers = paid professionals, paying allied/mercenary armies to fight with them • salary + share of the spoils
The Roman Soldier’s Mindset • good soldier = loyal to Rome, his legion (military unit) • bravery is teamwork, not individual • standard: flag/figure carried as symbol of the legion • led army into battle • like a mascot…
Military Structure • single soldiers organized into Centuria: groups of 100 soldiers led by a centurion • 2 Centuria = 1 Manipulus(200 soldiers) • 3 Manipuli = 1 Cohort (600 soldiers) • 10 Cohorts = 1 Legion (6000 soldiers) • Caesar made the centuria 60 soldiers to make the legion more mobile (3600 vs. 6000 soldiers)
Roman Military Equipment • uniform clothing and equipment (about 50 pounds) • clothing: • tunic: undergarment, often made of wool • jacket/outer coat • heavy boots, sandals
Roman Military Equipment • armor: • breastplate • helmet • shield • weapons: • javelins (designed to bend & break… why?) • short sword
Roman Military Tactics • Roman armies marched, set up military camps • 2-5 hours to make camp • 4 gates with 2 criss-crossing streets • included altars, religious gathering areas
Roman Military Tactics • many advancements in battlefield layout of legions • testudo formation • testudo = Latin for “tortoise” • used to protect against projectiles, especially during sieges • drawbacks of testudo formation? • slow-moving • hand-to-hand combat difficult