10.1 Flashcards
Desrcibe the beginning of Rome / Calendar
- Rome was devloped a city state controlled a strategic poisiton a ford of the river tiber
rather than large scale war, therey were small conflicts between neighbouring communities for acuqisiton of resources and cotnrol of rontier terirotiies
- The roman caldner included festivals for the beginning and the end of the war season in march and October
What was the status of Rome in relation to other Latin communities and city-states of central Italy until the 4th century BCE?
Until the 4th century BCE, Rome was an important city that likely established some form of hegemony over smaller Latin communities. However, during this period, Rome was just one among many city-states in central Italy.
Describe the equipment and representation of Roman warriors in the late 7th/early 6th century BCE, including their mode of transportation.
- In the late 7 th / early 6 th century BCE the equipment of Roman warriors became similar to that of the Greek hoplites.
- Artistic representations show foot soldiers with spears, helmets and hoplite shields wearing bronze or linen body armor. They follow chieftains on a chariot, which must have been a prestigious means of transportation rather than a fighting platform.
- There are also several representations of cavalry, armed like hoplites.
- Chieftains Chariot: Refers to leaders or commanders of early Roman military forces who would be transported by a chariot.
How did the social structure of Italy influence early Roman warfare tactics, and what were the characteristics of their military formations?
Back:
Due to the more elitist and clan-based social structure in Italy, it is doubted that there was a sizable class of independent landowners to form a true hoplite army fighting in the phalanx formation. Instead, soldiers equipped with hoplite gear were probably few and were supported by numerous light infantry. It is also likely that these hoplite-like soldiers in Rome used throwing spears and adopted a more open formation, similar to the earliest Greek hoplites. The use of throwing spears might have persisted in Italian warfare much longer than in Greece.
Outline the basic timeline of early Roman conquests in the 4th and early 3rd centuries BCE, including the outcomes for the conquered communities.
Flashcard Question:
Front:
Outline the basic timeline of early Roman conquests in the 4th and early 3rd centuries BCE, including the outcomes for the conquered communities.
Back:
- Early 4th century BCE: Rome annexed the Etruscan city of Veii, marking the beginning of Roman expansion in Central Italy. The majority of the conquered communities became allies of Rome, and the area under Roman control was termed
“imperium.”
- Second half of the 4th and early 3rd centuries BCE: Rome conquered Campania and engaged in the “Samnite Wars” against the populations of the Apennine highlands.
282-275 BCE War against king Pyrrhus, followed
by Roman conquest of South Italy
- Early 4 th century BCE: annexation (acquisiton) of the Etruscan city of Veii and beginning of Roman expansion in Central Italy. In the majority of cases the conquered communities became allies of Rome. The area under Roman control was called “imperium.”
- Second half of the 4 th and early 3 rd centuries BCE: Conquest of Campania and “Samnite Wars” against the populations of the Apennine highlands.
What characterized the Roman army’s evolution in the 4th century BCE?
In the 4th century BCE hoplite gear still features prominently in the art of Central Italy, but it is not clear whether representations are accurate or emphasize hoplite weaponry because of its traditional prestige.
- In the 3rd century BCE some visual sources from Rome show soldiers with long oval shield and the open face helmet with folding cheek guards.
- The move towards a lighter equipment and the importance of throwing spears/javelins is also seen among other peoples of Central and Southern Italy, which may have influenced the Romans as they fought against them and then integrated them into the Roman army as allies
Describe the nature and operational dynamics of the Roman army until the 2nd century BCE. and hwat changed?
Until the 2nd century BCE, the Roman army functioned as a militia where recruits were expected to provide their own arms and maintain their military skills. Armies were typically temporary, disbanding after each campaign. However, by the 4th century BCE, the state began providing a stipendium (military pay), theoretically allowing for year-long service, although most campaigns still lasted only a few weeks during the summer. Rome rarely employed mercenaries, relying instead on the large numbers of citizens and allies for military manpower.
Military pay
the military oath
- Roman soldiers swore an oath (the sacramentum) to obey the commands of their general and could be harshly punished – including death penalty – for disobedience.
- In addition to the sacramentum, Roman soldiers also appear to have sworn an oath (coniuratio) more informally among themselves, “not to flee the battlefield or to abandon their place.”
- In the late 3 rd century BCE the informal oath of mutual support was combined it with the sacramentum as an oath of loyalty to the commanders.
Roman and Allies:
what were allies classifed and and what was thier overall contirubion
- and the integriton of the allies into the roman army caused
- Communities under Roman influence were classified as Allies (Socii) and had formal agreements with Rome to provide troops if requested. The contingents of allies were placed under the overall command of Roman senior officers and were usually stationed on the wings.
- Their overall contribution was probably at least 50% of the total and was especially important for the cavalry.
- The integration of the allies into the Roman army may have caused mutual influence in military methods and the emergence of a relatively uniform “Roman” system.
Describe the polybin league and what was the system he dericbed
- The Greek historian Polybius, who wrote in the 2nd century bce , gives the fitst detailed desptiion of the roman army
- The essentials feature of the systems were certaintly pfesent much earlier
- In the system described by Polybius the citizen troops were brigaded in legions of at least 4500 men , of which the heavy infantry comprised at least 3000
what were the equipment of teh legionaires:
The pilum, sword, shield
The equipment of the legionaries: the pilum
* The development of a type of heavy javelin with long and thin iron shank attached to a wooden shaft, which became a standard in the 2nd centiru bce, was proabbalt agraduaul process with sevral sources of inspiration.
* There were two types of pilum, one lighter and narrower and the other heavier
* In general, the pilum is effective at relativiely short range. Its main advnatge is ht epwoer to pierce shields and armour
The sword:
* With the shiled they also carry a sword a sword hanging by their right thigh, which is called a spnsih sword. It has an excellent point and cn deal a formidable blow with either edge, because its blade is stout and unebngni
* When Polybius wrote his accout the legions had aodopted th so called spansih sword a medisize size cut and thrust sword. As its name indicates, it was ifnlfuneced yb swords used by peoples of spain, whom the roman encoiurted in the later 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE
The equip of the leginaires: the shield
* The shiled was oval, curved, made of layers of wood, with spine and metal boss, and with one horiziontal hangrip
* Not uniquely roman but was used by many groups of ancient Italy
* This shiedl allows for better freedom of momvent , whjich was cruicl for romam tactics
Roman soldiers with oval scutum
* The shield allows for better freedom of movment , whichnwas cruicial fro orman tatics
* The chain mail armour: a less expesnive alternative was a small bronze breastplate. Polybius walso mentions greaves, but those were not standard
Skirmishers explain
Skirmishers (velites)
* In polbius desiption of the armt , the liht armed numbered ober a quarter of each legions strength (1200/ men out of 4200)
* The velites had a light round shield, a sword and some javlines. Polbyius adds that sometimes they covered head with a piece a wolf skin
Roman cavalrymen what were they also called and how many lines, and what were the lights called and how ere they supported and what were there weapons?
and when then the heavy oinfrantry soliders deployed in ___ lines, divided into __ smaller unitd called ___ delopyed at ___ from one another
- Roman cavalrymen (equites) were drawn from the lite
- Three hundred citizen cavalry were raised for each legion, divided into ten squadron
- Their true impact on roman warfare and battel is difficult to asses, but probably they only provided support the infantry
What were the maniple, of how many men for hastati adnpricnile and triarri
who wer ethe maniples commanded by?
why was the formation assumed to have been relatively loose?
Each maniple (“handful”) of Hastati and
Principes numbered about 120 men. The
maniples of Triarii were smaller, 60 men each.
- The maniples were commanded by two officers
(centurions) and two subordinates (optiones)
and could operate separately or in combination
with others. The centurions followed the orders
of the commander but had some room for
battlefield initiative. - The formation must have been relatively loose,
with enough space to throw javelins
what were the battle tactics with heavy infrantry soliders?
and what was a important phase of the battle
In battle, the hastati engaged the enemy and were reinforced or replaced by the principes, while the triarii were allowed to sit or kneel in reserve. They were usually only committed if the engagement was going very badly, thus spawning the phrase, “it has come to the triarii,” for any serious situatio
Missile combat was a long and very important
phase of the battle, and only when the enemies
appeared weakened the soldiers would close in
with the sword for hand-to-hand combat
