THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN: Roman Army Flashcards
PSB Source: Camp Layout - Roman Fort
Principia in centre
Barracks on either end
Main gate at front
Turrets/corner towers on border
Ditch around it
What were the barrack for in a Roman Fort?
Each contains 2 rooms
1 for socialising
1 for sleeping
Accomodates 8 men
Adaptations of Roman Fort booklet source
Good discipline
Skiled
Self sufficient - everything they needed was inside the fort
Limitations of Roman Fort booklet source
Only 1 version of a fort
What features of a Roman fort were for protection?
Ditch
Turret
Corner Tower
Adaptations of Booklet source of barrack block at Northumberland
Well built -> made of stone
Orderly
Northumberland is windy (the Roman army were from Rome so would feel cold)
Limitations of Booklet source of barrack block at Northumberland
Only one photo
Picture is partial
PSB Source: Vegetius, extract from Epitoma
Training was intense
Like practicing with a shield double the weight of a normal one
PSB Source: Incscription in Chester
Training was dangerous
People could die when travelling between places (e.g. shipwreck), not just in war
What are ‘coloniae’
Roman towns initially set up for residence of ex - Roman legionaries
When Roman legionaries had worked for 25 years in the army, they could retire and were given land -> they ran out space in Italy so would give them in Britain
What are ‘municipa’
Highly ranked towns contain British and Roman people (with Latin citizenship)
What is a ‘civitas’
government centres where tax was collected
What were ‘legionary fortresses’?
Fortresses where the army stayed during war
What does Map of Roman Britain in source booklet show?
Good road network
South = more countryside
North = where wars + trade occurred
Limitations of Map of Roman Britain in source booklet?
Possible that some Roman roads are not marked, not found
Main Roman Roads in Britain
Ermine Street
Watling Street
Fosse Way
What were soldiers in legions called?
Legionary
Legionary
Had to be Romans
Had to serve for 25 years
Conditions for legionaries during their service?
Cannot get married
Can have affairs
Number of people in a Roman legion?
5000 soldiers
What were legionaries capable of doing?
Building forts, camps, and roads
What did a Roman legionaries staff include?
Engineers
Architects
Carpenters
Doctors
Recruitment of legionary
Interviewed to check if he was a Roman citizen
Given a medical examination
Source from Vegetius of how a Roman soldier should be
A young soldier should be broad -chested with powerful shoulders. […] All those who do the kind of jobs that women normally do should be kept away from the army. On the other hand, smiths, carpenters and hunters of deer and wild boar are the most suitable kind of recruit. […] You must choose men who are outstanding not only in body but also in mind.
