1. Western civilization University high school 2011-12
ROMAN MILITARY

2. The Roman Military difficult to estimate size almost entirely male
700,000 soldiers? 3.5 million?
almost entirely male

3. 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

5. 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…

6. 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 soldiers)

7. Roman Military Equipment
uniform clothing and equipment (about 50 pounds)
clothing:
tunic: undergarment, often made of wool
jacket/outer coat
heavy boots, sandals

8. Roman Military Equipment
armor:
breastplate
helmet
shield
weapons:
javelins (designed to bend & break… why?)
short sword

9. 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

10. 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