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One reason was the size of Rome's military manpower. When Rome expanded into central and southern Italy in the 4th century BC and the first part of the 3rd century BC, she made alliances with the peoples in these areas. These allies had to supply soldiers who fought in auxiliary units which supported the Roman legions at their own expense. The system worked because the Romans supported the ruling elites of these peoples and shared the spoils of war, which could be considerable. In this period the allied supplied 60% of the pool of military manpower available to Rome. This was the largest pool in the Mediterranean. Later, the auxiliaries were recruited from all over the Roman Empire and doubled the size of the Roman army.

Another reason was Rome's ability to mobilise several legions (army corps) on several fronts at the same time. This ability was developed early on, in the 6th century BC, when Rome was attacked by several neighbours and had to fight both to her north and south. At one point during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) Rome was capable of fighting in Italy, Spain and Greece at the same time.

The Roman army was already well organised and efficient when it was a citizen militia. Later she developed a professional army where the soldiers careers lasted 16 years at first and then 20 years.

Flexibility was another feature. When Rome fought against the Samnites of the mountains of southern Italy she changed her military formation from the Greek system of the phalanx to the manipular system of the Samnites, the enemy. This was because the maniples were more flexible and better suited to mountain warfare.

The Romans were single minded in warfare and went to any length to win wars. Here are some examples. The stone paved roads, a major construction undertaking, had the military purpose of speeding up the movement of troops or the transport of supplies to soldiers at the front or stationed in garrisons. The first such road was built in 312 BC and went from Rome to the front of the Second Samnite War. Towards the end of the First Punic War (264-241 BC) the Roman fleet was depleted and the Roman state run out of money. The Roman rich paid for the construction of another fleet. This fleet won the final naval battle and the war. When the Romans decided to fight the Dacians who were attacking the empire from across the river Danube the emperor Trajan had a six and a half mile long bridge built across the river.

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11y ago

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