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Warfare in ancient times was drastically different from today. In the time of the Romans, foot soldier infantry were the primary fighting force. The Legionaries of Rome fought primarily with the pilum, a javelin type spear, a short sword called a gladius, a dagger called a pugio, and a door or tower shield called the scutum. They wore scale armor composed of overlapping metal plates held together by leather strapping or a type of chain mail hauberk. They had additional armor to protect the limbs, such as greaves and vambraces.

When engaging in combat, the Roman Legions followed strict tactical doctrines, which called for fighting in formations. This generally centered on the phalanx, which was a formation where the infantry formed a wall with their shields to block the attacks of other enemy infantry. By staying in a tight formation, the men behind the front line could protect themselves and the men of the front from arrows by holding their shields above them. The front light soldiers could then use their javelins or short swords to dispatch enemy combatants.

The Roman Legions had many auxiliary combat forces, including cavalry, archers, and various siege engines, and warships.

Ultimately, warfare in those ancient times was a bloody affair, as the opposing armies would literally have to hack each other to bits in order to force the opposition to surrender or to annihilate them outright. There was little in the way of medical treatment, so even minor wounds sustained in combat usually meant death or cripplement.

Sieges were another affair altogether, as a fortress would be surrounded and besieged for months at a time, some even lasting years. All the while the attackers would lob boulders, flaming pitch, dead bodies and animals over the walls. They would attempt to breech any weak point in a fortification, generally under counter fire from the defenders, or scale the walls directly. Sieges were almost more grueling than outright combat, causing greater fatigue on the attackers, so it would be avoided when possible.

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Q: What was the battle like in roman times?
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