Roman Equipment and Tactics Flashcards
What is the Lorica Segmentata?
- Armour consisting of horizontal metal bands on the torso and vertical metal bands on the shoulders
What are the positives and negatives of the Lorica Segmentata
- Could be manufactured much more quickly than chainmail
- Very flexible
- Offered excellent protection against projectiles and some protection from swords
- Fittings that hold the bands together were in constant need of repait
What is a gladius?
- Principle weapon for legionary soldiers
- Mostly used for stabbing
- Could be used defensively, to parry incoming blows
What is a cassis?
- Helmet
- Bronze with a horsehair plume
- Made of separate pieces
Positives of the Cassis?
- Lighter than a Corinthian helmet
- Doesn’t impact peripheral vision, while still having protection for cheeks
What is a scutum?
- Shield
Positives of scutum?
- Large and curved, giving good protection from a range of angles
- Included a metal knob in the middle that could be used to punch enemies to knock them off balance
What is a pilum?
- A spear
- Thrown at the start of battle like a javelin to kill or injure the enemies frontline
What were the positives of the pilum?
- Tip was designed to bend after having been thrown, so it couldn’t be reused by enemy side
- If it pierced a shield, it would render it useless because you wouldnt be able to pull it out
What is a sporran?
- Apron of leather strips that offered some protection to groin and upper thighs
What would happen after the first stage of battle (Romans throwing their pilums)?
They would advance to fight at close quarters in loose formation
What is the Testudo formation?
- Shields locked together to form a wall against projectiles
- Formation would move towards enemy so they could fight in close quarters
- Shields could even be used to form a ramp, helping soldiers to climb over enemy walls
What are the differences between Greek and Roman spears?
GREEK- longer and used for stabbing
ROMAN- shorter and thrown
What are the differences between Greek and Roman shields?
GREEK- round, used for shield wall in phalanx, to protect themselves and neighbour
ROMAN- rectangular and curved, protect just themselves
What are the differences between Greek and Roman armour?
GREEK- one-piece inflexible cuirass, one-piece inflexible helmet, greaves
ROMAN- segmented flexible cuirass, segmented helmet, no greaves
What are the differences between Greek and Roman swords?
GREEK- backup weapon
ROMAN- primary weapon, mostly for stabbing
What are the differences between Greek and Roman formations?
GREEK- phalanx
ROMAN- loose formation
What were the different siege tactics?
Surround and starve
Over walls
Through walls
Describe surround and starve siege tactic?
- Surround the fortification, preventing anyone from getting in or out
- Eventuall food and/or water will run out, and the enemy will be forced to surrender
Describe the Over wall siege tactic?
- Siege towers used to make scaling walls of a town or fort safer
- Soldiers could climb up ladders in the tower to a height to get over walls
- Archers could stand on the top of the tower and fire arrows into the fort
Describe the ‘Through the walls’ siege tactic?
- Walls and gates could be broken with rams
- Once the walls fell, the Roman infantry could enter the city to fight
What was an artillery?
- A large-scale device for firing projectiles
What was a ballista / catapulta?
- Like a crossbow, fired bolts with high accuracy
What was an onager?
- Had a single swinging arm, used for flinging rocks
- Aimed at weak points in walls
