ROMAN REPUBLIC

legion

A formidable fighting force of the Roman army, originally consisting of property-owning citizens.

centuries

Groups of 100 men in the Roman army, organized into cohorts.

cohorts

Groups of 600 men in the Roman legion, made up of six centuries.

Marius

A Roman general who allowed poor citizens to volunteer for military service and reorganized the Roman legions.

palisades

Fortified wooden fences built by legionaries at the end of the day for protection.

Scutum

The large leather-covered wooden shield used by Roman soldiers.

Pilum

A javelin thrown at close range designed to bend on impact.

Gladius

The short sword used by Roman legionaries, primarily for close combat.

Hamilcar Barca

Carthaginian general during the First Punic War, father of Hannibal.

Punic Wars

A series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage for control of the Mediterranean.

Battle of Zama

The decisive battle of the Second Punic War where Scipio defeated Hannibal.

Carthago delenda est

Means 'Carthage must be destroyed'; a phrase often used by Cato the Elder.

Macedonian phalanx

A battle formation of Macedonian soldiers armed with long spears, which lacked the flexibility of the Roman legion.

Triumvirate

An alliance or shared power among three individuals, notably Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus in ancient Rome.

Ides of March

March 15; the date of Julius Caesar's assassination by senators.

geo-archaeology

A scientific approach combining geography and geology to study archaeological sites.

Cicero

A Roman consul who argued for restoring checks and balances in the Senate but failed to persuade leaders.

dictator

A position of total power granted under emergency circumstances, held by individuals like Sulla and Caesar.

Caesar's reforms

Changes implemented by Julius Caesar aimed at improving the lives of the poor and consolidating power.

Legionary Oath

An oath of loyalty sworn by legionaries to the Roman Republic before the legion's eagle flag.

Camp Construction

Legionaries constructed fortified camps daily featuring deep ditches and high palisades, and also built straight roads and bridges.

Equipment Weight

Infantry soldiers carried about 50 lbs of equipment, earning the nickname 'Marius's mules.'

Key Gear Components

Roman soldiers typically carried gear including a helmet, breastplate, shield, javelin, sword, dagger, sandals, and a hooded cloak.

Off-duty Activities

Legionaries participated in games and visited public baths during their off-duty time.

General Sulla

A Roman general who marched his army into Rome, further igniting civil war during the Republic's decline.

Marius's Legacy

Marius opened the army to the poor, fundamentally changing recruitment and military structure in Rome.

Cannae

A significant battle during the Second Punic War where Hannibal achieved a major victory against Rome.

Roman Expansion

Rome expanded its power and territory following victories in the Punic Wars, becoming the leading superpower of the ancient world.

Corruption in the Republic

Deep-seated corruption was highlighted by Tiberius Gracchus's assassination and the political struggles of military generals.