Roman+Transportation+and+Weaponry

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**__Roads (viae)__**


 * Built by soldiers for transport of armies and mercantilism
 * Critical for success of Rome to expand empire and trade
 * Unique features
 * //Straight roads//: No concession to curving landscapes
 * //Propaganda statement// to assimmilate conquered people: Rome did things better
 * //Military purpose// enabling troops to move between Rome and conquests
 * **Via Appia** (312 BC)
 * Famous 560km highway
 * Connected Rome to new conquests
 * Construction** **of Roads**
 *  Gravel foundations allowed soil under surface to drain
 *  Often paved on top with flat stones
 * Had own curbs (curb stones)
 * Ditches along roadside for drainage

Roman soldiers: well trained and disciplined, receiving pay from 4th century BC

 * Centurions in charge of 80 ordinary legionaries (centuries); 59 centuries per legion; 30 legions in Roman army
 * Only Roman citizens in legions; non citizens in auxiliaries, including cavalry; excluded women
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Treated conquered enemies well: given partial rights and often citizenship
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Used //tortoise// formation when approaching soldiers; shields over heads and around sides offered protection from enemy missiles
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Built camps surrounded by 1m ditches and walls with sharpened stakes for defense

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<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Most common--gladius hispaniensis/Mainz with short blade, broad towards handle || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  H ad large, leaf-shaped blade 18 to 28 cm long and 5+ cm wide <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Used as auxiliary or back-up weapon <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Served as utility knife || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Sharp iron points and softer metal shafts behind <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Bended when hitting shield, hard to pull out—tripping enemy || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Thin sheets of wood stuck together and covered with leather <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Iron rim and centerpiece || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Montefortino-type helmets: Celtic design <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Usually no cheek pieces <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Early helmets decorative; later mass produced, little decoration || || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  ** Lorica segmentata-- ** broad metal strips held with hinges and leather straps <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  ** Lorica hamata-- ** mail armour <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  ** Lorica squamata **, small metal plates positioned like fish's skin <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Small apron of metal discs hung from waist  ||
 * **<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000080; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Defensive Weaponry ** ||
 * ** Galdius ** || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Short sword up to 55 cm long, worn on right for legionaires
 * ** Pugio ** || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Metal dagger hanging from belt
 * ** Pilum ** || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Two-metre iron javelin with thin wooden shaft thrown when near enemy; followed by stabbing
 * ** Shield ** || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Curved rectangular shield for legionaires to enclose body front
 * **<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000080; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Protective Weaponry ** ||
 * ** Helmet ** || <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Wingdings 3'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Wingdings 3';"> ­  Protected legionaires’ heads
 * ** Body Armor **


 * Citations**
 * Matyszak, Philip. __Chronicle of the Roman Republic__. London: Thames and Hudson, 2004.
 * Williams, Brian. __Roman War and Weapons__. Chicago: Heinemann, 2003.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; font-family: 'times new roman'; webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">"Roman Offensive Weapons." __Roman Military Equipment__. 2008. 9 May 2009 <[]>.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">"Protective Equipment- Roman Helmets." __Roman Military Equipment: Helmets__. RNG Museum Platform. 10 May 2009 [|<http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEquipment-Helmet-montefortino.html#Montefortino]>.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; font-family: 'times new roman'; webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> Crystal, Ellie. "Roman Roads." __Roman Roads__. 2009. Crystalinks. 8 May 2009 < []>.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; font-family: 'times new roman'; webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">  "Roman road system." __Encyclopaedia Britannica__. 2009. Encyclopaedia Britannia Online. 1 May 2009 <http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9083820>.