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Rome was early on (say 500 BCE) a farming community covering about 50 square miles, with a citadel to defend in extremis. The Roman army comprised initially the peasant farmers turning out to repel predatory nomads or neighbours. To be in it you had to possess property. Non-propertied people were not fighting for anything, and so were unreliable; and also it was thought unfair to make them fight to protect others' property.
As the state became stronger, and population grew, it became necessary to steal the land of neighbours as the one-hectare dry farms were too small to subdivide amongs several sons. So they attacked neighbouring states to get it; the neighbours were also trying to do the same to them. Rome won some and lost some, but on average was more successful at land piracy and spread its control progressively through the Italian Peninsula and across the Padus River to the north into territory settled by the Gauls.
This citizen army (augmented by the Italian allies they had taken under their sway) sufficed until the Germanic peoples got on the move in the late 2nd Century BCE. After a disasterous defeat in Gaul, it became necessary to match the sheer numbers of Germans to recruit from the non-propertied class. This created a new type of solder. Farmers, when a campaign was over, returned to their farms with their share of the loot. These new soldiers had nothing to come back to and so relied on their generals to organise land for them, and this clientele gave the generals the clout to push their own interests, resulting in the civil wars. And of course long campaigns and garrisoning the growing empire turned the citizen warriors into a standing professional army.
After Sulla and Julius Caesar both failed to find a solution to the ambitious generals, Augustus short circuited this by allocating to himself the frontier provinces which is where the legions were and so deprived rivals of a military base. The army was by now completely professional with enlistment terms which grew from 16 to 20 years.
It was still open only to Roman citizens, however it included foreign auxiliariary units for such specialist tasks as archers, slingers, cavalry. And from the early 1st Century BCE the Italian allies were admitted to Roman citizenship, and over the years various other peoples and provinces in Spain, Gaul and Britain were admitted to citizenship. The way was opened finally in 212 CE when Caracalla opened citizenship, and therefore the army, to all free people in the Empire.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe Roman army was like any other army down to the present day. The soldiers trained, cleaned their equipment, trained some more, marched, griped about their centurions, obeyed orders, were assigned jobs, and complained about their pay. The major difference was that in the Roman Empire, the army was the group that was responsible for building and maintaining the roads, aqueducts, and bridges, although we have the Army Corps of Engineers, that may do some of the same things today.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoWhen the Romans instituted a professional army of volunteers, any able bodied citizens of sound mind and of military age (17 to 46) could join the army. Freedmen acquired citizenship on being freed. They could join the army, too.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agothe army was 1 of the best jobs. men would spend 25 years in the army. rome became known because the army defeated (and allied) most of the land around the Mediterranean Sea. generals of the army became rich and sometimes famous.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoRoman armies were called Legions.............
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∙ 10y agoYou need to articulate your answer better because "how is the Roman army" does not clarify what you want to know.
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∙ 7y agoTo defend and expand the Roman Empire
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Who was in te Roman army?
Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.
What were foriegners in the roman army called?
Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.
The major unit of the Roman army?
The major unit of the Roman army was the legion.
Which Roman armies were the most dominant in history?
There were several dominant Roman armies in history. These Roman armies include the Romany Army of the Mid-Repubic, Imperial Roman Army, Middle Byzantine Army, and Komnenian Byzantine Army.
What is a group of roman soldiers called?
Cohort , legion or maniple .
Who made the army a professional body of soldiers?
Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.Gaius Marius turned the Roman army professional.
Who are the protectors of the roman empire?
The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.The army would have been the protectors of the Roman empire.
Who was in te Roman army?
Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.Roman citizens were in the Roman army. These were reinforced by auxiliaries who were recruited from the provinces.
What did the Roman soldiers call their army?
The Imperial Roman Army.
Did roman people look after the army?
It was not the Roman people who looked after the army. It was the Roman state.
What wreaked the Roman army?
Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.Basically the Roman army was weakened by inaction which led to lack of discipline.
What were foriegners in the roman army called?
Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.Foreigners in the Roman army were used as and called auxiliaries.
What army did Julius Caesar join?
As a Roman, he was part of the Roman army.
What does legate mean for the Roman army?
A legatus or legate was a General in the Roman army.
What weapon was not used in the Roman army?
The roman army did not use nuclear weapons.
The major unit of the Roman army?
The major unit of the Roman army was the legion.
What reward did Roman army got?
The Roman Army received the TROJAN HORSE.
