HIST 017 Roman Legion W2014

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HISTORY OF WAR: Roman LegionWeek 3

+TODAY

Prologue to last weekRoman warfareVideo and group workTest details for next week

+The Monster Armies

Alexander’s death and Battle of the “Successors”

Organized killing became a Greek art form By the 3rd c. BC, agrarian unity gone Phalanx increasingly vulnerable

+“The Macedonian formation is sometimes of little use, and at others of none whatsoever, since a phalangite is unable to operate either in smaller units or by himself – while the Roman formation is especially well-rounded.” (Polybius, p.44)

+Rome

Small republic turned empire First professional army Model for Western civilization (Conquest then) barbarian invasions force

transition

+A Gladiator’s Story (17min-22, 28-31, 42+)

+Legionary Genesis

More organized, less chaotic than Greek style More mobile and fluid Phalanx broken up into maniples or “handfuls”

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+The Emergence of a Mediterranean Army Roman expansion Romans fought all year round Roman culture reaching “tipping point” End of the old insular Roman agricultural state Pattern that the West has continued to face …and makes enemies

+Carthage vs. Rome

Results in Punic Wars (First: 264-241 BC; Second: 218-201 BC; Third 149-146 BC)

Competing commercial interests Diverse mercenary soldiers vs. Romans Hannibal studied his adversaries

+Hannibal vs. Rome: First Punic War (264-241 BC) Naval war: ends in military draw Agreement to limit navy 15% loss Spanish silver Hannibal inherits hate for Rome from his

father

+Hannibal vs. Rome: Second Punic War (218-201 BC) Hannibal is blocked by Romans (Scipio) at

Rhone River Small skirmishing Hannibal’s army vanishes Roman defeat at Ticinus River

+Hannibal vs. Rome: Second Punic War (218-201 BC) Hannibal takes advantage Worst defeat in 125 years of Roman

experience New legions raised and consul elected

(Flaminius) Hannibal lured Flaminius out and trapped him Hannibal has caused catastrophic loss to

Romans

+Hannibal vs. Rome: Second Punic War (218-201 BC) Temporary dictator appointed in Rome New strategy against Hannibal Senate forces (Fabius’) resignation, Varro and

Paulus new consuls Varro wants war Roman configuration vs. Carthaginian at

The Battle of Cannae

+The Emergence of a Mediterranean Army Gaius Marius (157-86 BC) made final transition

of military in 107-105BC Moving away from agrarian tradition Shifting allegiances Urban unemployment and impoverishment Common bond

+The Emergence of a Mediterranean Army Marius’ logistical and tactical changes: cohort “Marius’s mules” Uniformity Javelin (pilum) Legionary standards

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+The Rise of the Hired Armies

Marius solidified change to entirely professional army (by end of 1 century BC)

Roman professionalism and training General built private power/armies Military power steam-rolled opposition

+Empires and Armies Based on the video, answer the following

questions:1. What are some differences between the

Roman and Greek style of war (logistics, weapons, etc)?

2. What are some strengths and weaknesses of the Roman legion?

3. What sort of long-term impact did the Roman way of war have?

+Test 1 Details

Worth 15% 15-20 multiple choice questions PLUS 2 short answer questions (worth 5 marks

each). I will give you a choice of questions to select from for the short answer.

Covers Week 1, 2, and 3