(The image above stands for “The Senate and People in Rome” in English.) The Roman Empire has given much influence on our own society. We have learned from their rights and wrongs have applied their tribulations to promote our society. The cultural weight and military power of the (Western) Roman Empire was unmatched for hundreds of years before the inevitable collapse in 476 A.D.
(image via senatus-populusque-romanus)
In a typical Roman family, both girls and boys would receive schooling. Both sexes would learn what was expected of them. Girls and boys would typically end their primary schooling together. Most children would end their schooling with their peers, but sometimes boys would continue their education if the family was wealthy enough. If the family did not have enough money, boys would be sent to be trained as soldiers for the military. The young adults that would continue their education would learn philosophy, religion, languages besides Greek and Latin, and rhetoric.
Both sexes would typically wear tunics over their underwear. The male tunic would reach a man’s knees, while a woman’s would reach further down, sometimes to the ground. The woman’s tunic would have long sleeves and the men would not have sleeves until the later half of the third century. If it was cold out, people would wear two or even three tunics at a time. Typically, the tunic would be made of wool. If wealthy enough, a man or woman could get a tunic made of silk or cotton, which would be imported from China or India. Sometimes, if a man was part of a special organization, then he would wear a strip across his chest on the tunic to signify his loyalty to an order.
(image via mistythicket)
Back in the Roman Empire, a Roman family would be similar to our modern day family. There was a father, mother, children, but also there were slaves. The father would be the head of the household and make a living for the family. The mother would manage the slaves, run errands, and socialize with other women. The children would be given an education and learn their duties in life. The slaves would run the household essentially while the mother was out. However, in Roman tradition, the eldest father would rule over the family. For example, if there was three generations of father in a single family, the oldest father would tell everyone what to do. If a family held more than one generation in a household, that family was considered of a higher social class.
(image via thedialyjanis)
Entertainment was huge in the Roman Empire. As time progressed, more and more days were considered holidays, requiring more entertainment venues. Most people were expected to attend religious ceremonies. However, the everyone went to chariot races and Colosseum matches. In Roman times, it was more of a requirement to attend gladiator battles than a luxury. In the Colosseum, men and animals would kill each other until one was left. Some public executions would also take place in the Colosseum. One such execution is when a criminal is crucified in the middle of the arena and then ripped to shreds by a large animal, usually a bear. This sort of brutality would allow young boys to become accustomed to life as a soldier. Chariot races would be more like our modern day NASCAR. Many men would gamble away their earnings to bet on a “driver,” who led his chariot in a race.
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In the Roman Empire, the legion was the most famous and powerful military unit the Romans had. It would be comprised of 5,300 to 6,000 men, depending whether the legion had non-combantants attached. The Legion was made up of 10 cohorts, which would be made up of 6 centuries, in which each century would actually be made up of 80 men, not 100. In battle, the strongest and weakest cohorts would be mixed in a particular order to provide experience for the newest soldiers and enough power to win over an enemy. The Legion was essentially a slaughtering machine. It would be completely made up of men with heavy shields and armor, a Gladius (sword), one Pilum (javelin), and one Pugio (dagger). A legion would throw its PIlum before charging into enemies. The Pilum was specially created in which once thrown, it could not be thrown again.
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In each legion, there would be 10 cohorts. Cohort I would be composed of the most elite units of a legion and would be double strength compared to the other cohorts. Cohorts II, IV, VII, IX would be the newest and weakest cohorts in a legion. Cohorts III, and V would have no special title or designation, in which they would be normal and “average” soldiers. Cohort VI was made up of the “Finest Young soldiers,” which was made up of the newest and best recruits. Cohort VIII was created for “Specially Marked Soldiers,” which would be made up of not the best but fine soldiers. The last cohort was made up of the second best soldiers, who would be waiting to be promoted to the first cohort.
(Image via romanmilitary)
In a legion, the overall commander was the Legatus Legionis. He would be appointed by the Emperor and if he was in a friendly province, he would also be the provincial governor. The second in command was the Tribunus Laticlavius, who would typically be less battle hardened than the Legatus Legionis. The 3rd in command would be the Praefectus Castrorum, who was the prefect in the legion. Next in command were the Tribuni Angusticlavii, who were basically the “knighted class” soldier. They carried out administrative tasks in the legion. After the Tribunus Angusticlavii, there was the Primus Pilus, the leading centurion who commanded the first cohort and all other centurions. In each century, a centurion would lead their unit into battle. The centurion was a seasoned soldier, who had seen many battles. Principales were the equivalent of non-commissioned officers of today.
(image via romeomodels)
In each Roman legion, punishment was added to each injustice done to Rome. The death penalty was rarely used in the Roman military. It was primarily used to deter desertion, mutiny, or insubordination. One form of the death penalty was decimation. In this form, every tenth man of a cohort, century, or even the legion would be randomly chosen to be clubbed or stoned to death by his fellow soldiers. This was one of the crazy things Rome did. Another form of punishment was complete legion disbandment. If a legion was disbanded, then the soldiers would not receive the typical payment of land and money. Disbandment would almost always arise because of the fear of being loyal to a political enemy of the Emperor of Rome.
(Image via ancientl)
In the days of the glory of Rome, the Romans had special equipment within their legions. One such unique weapon was the carroballistae. It was a giant crossbow that shot iron tipped bolts at enemies. It was used to kill or injure advancing opponents. The bolts, which were about 3 pounds each, could be fired up to 550 yards. The bolts could be shot at 115 miles per hour.
Another piece of equipment that was not so commonly used was the onager, which was a catapult. Although it could not fire with the range of the carroballistae, its effects could be more devastating to enemies. In Latin, it means “wild ass.” It could fire flaming rocks that could weight 150 pounds to smash enemy walls or gates. It could also have many smaller rocks and fire like a mortar into an enemy fortification, causing rocks to strike enemies on the head with heavy projectiles.
(image via siege-engine)
The Roman Empire 