CLAS 1140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Vindolanda Tablets, Legio Ii Augusta, Vindolanda
Document Summary
Romans had the most powerful military in the ancient world. Romans spent a ton of money on their military, and their military conquests drove their economy. Roman soldiers were the most highly trained soldiers. Once you enlisted, you were a soldier for life. You got a pension (of land), but you were in it for life. * troops: standard infantrymen; special forces (lancers, archers, cavalry); foreign auxiliaries. High degree of orderliness (e. g. 3 advancing lines alternating) Formations: testudo; hoplite (overlapping shields in phalanx formation) Weaponry: battering ram, ballista (heavy darts/stones), onager ( wild ass ) ); auxil. fort + civilian town; c. 80s ad-5th c (rebuilt 9x) correspondence. B. caerleon (c. 75ad-c. 380); legio ii augusta; fort, amphitheater, bath, town: vindolanda tablets (1st-2nd c ad): 750+ wood tab. The romans have conquered the entire world through their weaponry and strict military discipline.
