Early Roman weaponry

Roman armor was pieced together in strips for better manuverablity in the arms. Think of a football player's shoulder pads, this is the way the armor fit across the shoulders, the rest of the arm was exposed.

Metal armor covered the back and chest. Roman muscle armor was molded in the front and back to the fit the shape of the wearer. There was no armor over the shoulders. This looked more like a bullet proof vest.
The shoes were often open toed with multiple leather straps woven closely together and attached to a sturdy sole with hobnails on the sole.

They were armed with two spears, a throwing spear, which was lighter, and a javelin with a long iron head along with a short sword and dagger. The shields were made of wood covered with leather and iron boss.

Roman centurion helmets (centurions held higher rank in the army) had the decorative, red fringe along the top, its reminiscent of a rooster's crown. The helmets for all military had a small visor and strips to protect the ears. Unlike Alexander the Great, Roman commanders stayed in the back lines.

The front line in a legion was armed with spears, they would rush the enemy while thier own men manuevered themselves for battle. The phalanx was replaced with a new strategy. Men were sectioned off in maniples. This enabled them to fight independently, in small groups or as a whole. Advancting to attack, the legioaires would throw javelins into the enemy ranks and then close in to use short swords to deadly effect.

The soldiers were trained rogorously, harsh discipline occured if embarassment was caused, including the execution of the tenth man by his peers. The poor were frequently made into career soldiers, a hard life yielded good soldiers. Moving up in rank gave the soldier honor, prestige and more money.

Roman expansion threatened the Greeks living in Italy. Pyrrhus, king of one of the Greek states was asked to help fight the Romans. He amassed an army of 20,ooo infantry, 3,000 calvalry, as well as war elephants. The Romans met them in a town called Heraclea, by the Siris River.

The elephants scared the Roman calvalry, and the Greek phalanx drove the Romans back across the river. No quarter was given on either side. Losses on both side were so great, Pyrrhus allegdly said, "One more such victory and I am lost." Hence the term "Pyrrhic victory."

Bronze Age Badasses

The Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians and Persians grew powerful armies with superior arms and technologies. Even though Assyria was the undisputed super power, Persia, Greece and Egypt refused to yield.

Armies surged onto the battlefield in horse drawn chariots. Three men stood in the the chariot, two of which were armed witih bow and arrows.
Armor was used and improved upon as the bronze age smelted into the iron age. Early bronze armor was welded into ringlets around the body giving the soldier the look of the michelin tire guy. this armor was effective against the flaming arrow and sword strike but the warriors own movements were restrained.

Chariots were widely used, the Assyrians being the first to organzie calvalries who rode into battle, aggressively charging the targets to be overcome. Surge machinery was widely used in the forms of catapults and the seige engine: a wooden tower mounted on four wheels. Archers manned the top of the tower while one to two battering rams were mounted upon its pedestal.. Wet leather protcted the engine from flame arrows.
The siege engine was pushed from behind with the rest of the calvalry armed with sword and shield to continue the battle.

The battles took to the seas as well, boats using oar power rammed enemy vessels in the hope of sinking them. Grapnel hooks were used to pull a ship closer to the invader so it could be boarded. Men lined the mast and decks armed with javelins and bows, even stones were thrown to cover those invaders passing from ship to ship. Once on board, the battle would take place with sword and dagger.

Weapons have improved over the years but basic battle strategy has not. As towns grew, fortresses were built to lend protection to the towns and its inhabitants, which necessitated strategies to override town security.

I have to wonder where the diplomats and peace makers were in all of this, my research hasn't uncovered any so far. My next blog will be on famous warriors and battles as we progress through time.
Thanks.