WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 4-⑥ Life in the Roman Army

The Roman Empire How big was the Roman Empire? A model of ancient Rome How big was the Roman Empire? The empire included everything around the Mediterranean Sea and most of the European continent. Roman soldiers called legionaries How was the Roman Empire able to get so big? In order to conquer all these countries, Rome built the strongest army ever seen.

The Roman Republic Who were the soldiers in the Roman army? A Roman legionary Who were the soldiers in the Roman army? The Roman army was made up of paid volunteers who signed up for at least 25 years of service. There were two main types of soldiers: legionaries and auxiliaries. What was the difference between the two types of soldiers? The legionaries were Roman citizens. They had to be over 17 years old. The auxiliaries were not Roman citizens. They were from places like Africa, France, and the Middle East. Auxiliaries often fought in the most dangerous places. Roman soldiers crossing a desert

Daily Life Roman soldiers marching What was a soldier’s life like? It was organized and filled with routines. Each soldier received a lot of training, and they lived by strict rules. If, for example, a guard fell asleep while on duty, he could be sentenced to death. What was life like while marching? Remains of a permanent camp Each soldier carried his own equipment while marching. The soldiers could walk over 30 kilometers a day. Each day, the soldiers had to put up tents and build a camp. They would dig a ditch and build a fence from wooden stakes around the camp. Were there any permanent camps? Yes, there were many permanent stone camps all over the Roman Empire.

The Spread of Roman Culture How did the Roman army influence other cultures? An aqueduct built to transport water The Roman army took Roman culture wherever it went. They built roads that still survive today. They built bridges and aqueducts that carried water to nearby cities. They also built amphitheaters and bath houses. The Roman camps and forts were built well. What happened to many of these Roman forts? Were Roman soldiers devoted to their generals? Often, once the Romans were finished with them, the forts would become the foundations for cities. The local people would move in and use all that had been built. Yes, a soldier’s future often depended on his general’s successes and failures. As a result, Roman soldiers were often more devoted to their general than to anyone else.

Soldiers and Julius Caesar What was a legion? A legion was a group of about 5,000 soldiers. The soldiers fought in legions. A Roman javelin A Roman sword What weapons did the soldiers use? They used javelins, swords, and shields. A statue of Caesar A Roman coin showing Caesar He was a famous Roman general who was distinguished by his courage. Who was Julius Caesar? What was he like? He could be very charming, but he was quite heartless toward his enemies. He conducted many successful wars.

The War Against the Gauls A statue of Vercingetorix Who was Vercingetorix? He was a smart chieftain who lead the Gauls. Vercingetorix refused to fight Caesar in a big battle. Instead, he made Caesar chase him through the countryside. Caesar’s army became exhausted, and Caesar became frustrated. Losing the war would have been very bad for Caesar. He would have lost a lot of his fame and power. Vercingetorix took his army to the town of Alesia where he thought they would be safe. What happened in the war between Caesar and Vercingetorix?

The Battle for Alesia What happened in 49 BC? How did Caesar win? A reconstruction of Caesar’s defenses at Alesia A Roman war machine How did Caesar win? What happened in 49 BC? He built strong walls around Alesia, so the Gauls could not escape. Then he waited. The Gauls soon had no food or water. A huge Gaul army arrived to rescue Vercingetorix. They charged against Caesar, but his soldiers fought them off. It was a bloody battle, but the Gauls were defeated. Caesar led his soldiers into Italy and started a civil war. Caesar won the war and became dictator.

The Murder of Julius Caesar A statue of Julius Caesar Did the Roman people like Caesar? Why? He gave grain to the poor, cleaned up the dangerous city streets, built a library, and created new jobs. Yes, they loved him. No, he was not loved by those in power. Members of the Senate were unhappy with him. Did everyone love Caesar? The murder of Julius Caesar The ruins of some important government buildings, most likely where Caesar was killed. Caesar was stabbed to death by members of the Senate during a Senate meeting. What happened on March 15th, 44 BC?

The Life of Retired Soldiers Ruins in Rome What happened to the auxiliary and legionary soldiers who survived their 25 years of service? They could retire. Upon retirement, auxiliary soldiers became Roman citizens. Legionary soldiers, who already were citizens, usually received a pension or some land to farm. Rome today Where did old legionary soldiers often retire? They often retired to towns with other legionaries. These military towns were called colonias, and many modern towns grew out of them. What are some Roman influences we can see today? Languages like English, French, and Italian all descended from the language the Romans spoke. The Romans founded many modern cities, too.

Vocabulary amphitheater n. aqueduct n. a round or oval building with seats placed around a stage aqueduct n. a structure for carrying water across land

Vocabulary exhausted adj. fort n. very tired fort n. a protected building or group of buildings for soldiers

Vocabulary frustrated adj. grain n. feeling annoyed or not confident because you cannot do or achieve what you want grain n. a seed or seeds from a plant, especially a plant like a grass such as wheat

Vocabulary Rome n. sandal n. a city in Italy which was the capital of the Roman Republic, and remains the capital of Italy today sandal n. a light, open shoe with straps, especially worn in warm weather