INSIDE THE ROMAN LEGIONS: The Soldier's Experience 264-107 BCE

1-243790

Aims to tell the story of the Roman soldier through a holistic, empathetic examination of what the experience of military service in the Middle Republic was really like, through the lens of an ordinary soldier. Traces real examples of soldiers described in the ancient sources to reveal how they traveled, how they were organized, and what campaign objectives they faced.

Begins with a discussion of a future soldier's background and what military values were conveyed to him through the prevailing culture of the time. Then follows him through a range of potential experiences, examining camp conditions and training with various types of weapons and armor, and proceeds to take the reader through the experience of fighting in a pitched battle step by step. Also addresses experiences that only some soldiers would have had, such as escaping a total defeat, deserting, or being subject to unusual punishments.