Rome: Age of Empire

Caesar Augustus Octavian was victorious at Actium, became Rome's first emperor, and became known as Caesar Augustus Launches campaigns in Spain, Egypt, the Alps, the Balkans, and Austria These rounded territories to natural boundaries or cemented control Also used to cement his legitimacy and loyalty of the army

Limited Expansion Augustus stopped conquests after three legions were destroyed in the Tuetonburg forest Advised successors to avoid expansion Generally followed out of respect and the dangers of failure to great a risk

A Professional Army After the Civil Wars there was 500,000 soldiers in 60 legions Through consolidation and paying off veterans, numbers reduced to 28 legions and 300,000 troops This included the Imperial Bodyguards, the Praetorian Guard

Changes for soldiers Land ownership officially ended Soldiering became a profession rather than civil service Service expanded from 6 to 20 years Land grants at end of service became standard Made of for poor wages

Army and politics Army had a special relationship to the emperor This inserted them into politics Army selected and assassinated emperors on occasion This is partially a result of the importance of military even in Republican Rome

Commanders Despite professionalization glory still a huge motivator Generals were political appointees but commanders were professionals Commanders acted to exploit commands, allowing generals to be vague

Tuetonburg Forest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmF3VBA_RcM

Rome: A golden Age

Pax Romana Era or relative peace and stability Started by Augustus, lasted thru the 5 good emperors About 150 years Most troops stations on German and Persian borders Preferred diplomacy with Perisa (Parthia)

Geostrategic Map There was not a hard line between “civilized” and “barbarian” Frontiers were porous and Roman influence extended beyond its borders Border tribes were “Romanized” Fortified camps were less defensive and more launching pads for offensives

Army as an institution One of the greatest institutions of the pre-modern world. Names and numbers legions maintained continuity across space and time Its camps and roads long outlasted the empire Helped maintain economic prosperity and mostly paid for itself

Army and Society Troops became marginalized Fewer people served Terms were longer Posts were farther from Rome Glory of victory generally went to the emperor Rewards came in form of promotions within the army Most imperial advisors therefore civilian rather than military

Army at war Used handbooks, standard marching and standardized mass produced weapons Tactics changed little but remained reliable late into the empire Cavalry improved due to foreign levies North Africa Offensive tactics used despite mostly defensive in nature Engineering and siege drastically improved Use of turtle formation

Police Actions Major actions included suppressing revolts Jewish revolts a good example Many died Showed all subjects not happy Purely defensive actions rare Invasions generally followed by punitive offenses Sent a message Gather plunder Small scale offenses common for political purposes Apply pressure Avenge slights

https://www. youtube. com/watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11iPrDv8aBE&index=5&list=PLkOo_Hy3liEJYEQ23l6bDrFrQYdkoZ3BC