CLAS 1000 Lecture 19: The Roman Army

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: CLAS 1000
• Professor: John Walsh

Document Summary

Can be misleading extended period of time (1000+ years) Sign of citizenship to be a part of the army. Had to own land to be included. Army only required for short periods of time to fight the immediate enemy. Under theben influence and macedonian influence it changes. Underwent one massive change, response to one massive pressure. Every year the romans fought someone new, long process of continual adaptation and evolution. Constant warfare forced the romans to change to face the differing regions. Greatest single moment of evolution in the roman army was when facing the. Fought three significant wars with the samnites (343-290 bc) Samnites did not fight in a single dense phalanx formation, instead in a more supple, mobile form of warfare block with three lines of individual handfuls of men. More flexible and dynamic way of fighting on the battlefield, replacing a solid. Triplex acies three lines of men that replace each other as time goes on.