Army
To defend its civilization and conquer new land ancient rome had and army of well trained men. The new recruits always became fit and disciplined. Training for combat was hard and harsh, and being punished for failure wasn't any better. During a battle, the new recruits were always in front of the more experienced soldiers of the army and there were many reasons why. Firstly it helped to give them confidence as there were experienced soldiers behind them. Secondly, it stopped the new recruits from becoming cowards and running away. Finally, it was more likely that once the battle started the people in the front would die first and as they couldn’t afford to place experienced soldiers in the front, they put the new recruits in the front line. They put the new recruits in the front because if they survived they would be a good addition to the army but if they died their loss wouldn’t be very great.
The Romans attempted and experimented a variety of attacking techniques. Legionnaires would run towards the enemy and throw their pila (a javelin) at them. While this confused the enemy, the legionnaires would move in for close contact fighting. Each attack was the result of careful planning and practice. They also used a technique called a tortoise which reduced the number of casualties.
The Romans also used soldiers who fought on horseback called Cavalry. The main task of the cavalry was to assist the legionnaires by attacking the enemy line at it’s flanks. Cavalry were also used if the enemy was retreating so that they could chase them and bring them down.
The Romans attempted and experimented a variety of attacking techniques. Legionnaires would run towards the enemy and throw their pila (a javelin) at them. While this confused the enemy, the legionnaires would move in for close contact fighting. Each attack was the result of careful planning and practice. They also used a technique called a tortoise which reduced the number of casualties.
The Romans also used soldiers who fought on horseback called Cavalry. The main task of the cavalry was to assist the legionnaires by attacking the enemy line at it’s flanks. Cavalry were also used if the enemy was retreating so that they could chase them and bring them down.
Part-time soldiers also helped the legionnaires. These men were mostly from an area that the Romans were trying to conquer. They weren’t trained but assisted the legionnaires by firing at the enemy while the legionnaires attacked. These men fought on foot and attacked the enemy before the legionnaires did causing the enemy’s number to reduce before the main assault.
The Romans designed weaponry that gave protection and could smash into fortifications. Siege towers allowed the Romans to gain access to a fort by removing the problem of a high wall.
The Romans also created large catapults called onagers. These fired large stone boulders at a wall to bring it down. The Romans also used catapults to fire iron bolts at the enemy.
To do all this, careful training was required and the people who helped do this were centurions. A centurion had to ensure that his century was a capable of effective fighting. Any century that did not perform well got punished by standing in line and every tenth man got killed. This punishment was so that everyone that didn’t get effected by it got warned.
The Romans designed weaponry that gave protection and could smash into fortifications. Siege towers allowed the Romans to gain access to a fort by removing the problem of a high wall.
The Romans also created large catapults called onagers. These fired large stone boulders at a wall to bring it down. The Romans also used catapults to fire iron bolts at the enemy.
To do all this, careful training was required and the people who helped do this were centurions. A centurion had to ensure that his century was a capable of effective fighting. Any century that did not perform well got punished by standing in line and every tenth man got killed. This punishment was so that everyone that didn’t get effected by it got warned.