Transcript What was life like in the Roman army? - Hom

What was life like in the
Roman army?
Quick Test Words
1. soldier
2. republic
3. centurion
4. guarded
5. shield
What was life like in the
Roman Army?
Training
Lifestyle
Benefits
Disadvantages
Life in the Roman Army
Organisation
Recruitment
Training
Pay
Promotion
Length of Service
Other duties
Done!
Families
How was the Roman Army
organised?
Legionary - a Roman soldier
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Century - 80 legionaries led by a
Centurion
Legion - 59 Centuries (nearly 5000
legionaries)
Roman Army: about 30
legions (nearly 150,000 men)
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How were Roman soldiers recruited?
Only Roman citizens
could serve in the legion
A citizen presented a letter of
introduction - probatio - to the
recruiting officer
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Recruits had to:
be able to read and write
Non-Romans could
be at least 5’
serve in the auxiliary
7”
have good eyesight and hearing forces
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What training did soldiers receive?
Recruits had to
march 20 miles in
five hours
At the end of the
march recruits had to
dig trenches and
build their overnight
camp
Recruits trained
with heavy
wooden weapons:
swords, spears
and javelins
Recruits learned battle formations:
single line, double line
square, wedge
the testudo - ‘tortoise’
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Were soldiers paid for their service?
By the 4th Century
BC soldiers
received money to
pay for food and
equipment
Soldiers
received extra
money from
emperors to
keep them loyal
Soldiers received a
share of loot and slaves
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Soldiers were given land
and cash when they retired
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How were Roman soldiers promoted?
Most soldiers
started as foot
soldiers
Senior staff were
in charge of the
legion’s standard
After 15 to 20 years,
a soldier might be
promoted to the rank
of Centurion
Soldiers could
be promoted
to cavalry
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Junior Staff were in
charge of the watch
and passwords
The top centurion
helped the general in
his council of war
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How long would soldiers serve in
the military?
Legionaries
served for 16
years
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Auxiliaries had
to serve for 25
years
Soldiers had to
serve an extra
five years in
reserve
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What other duties would a soldier
perform?
Soldiers not on
campaign built...
Roman soldiers
were great
engineers
roads
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Soldiers on
campaign built...
bridges
camps
forts
siege works
aqueducts
shipping canals
Soldiers also
worked as police
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Were legionaries allowed to have
families?
Roman soldiers were
not allowed to marry
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Most soldiers had
unofficial families
where they were
stationed
Soldiers’ sons would
often join the military
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What was life like in the Roman Army?
Example worksheet
Training
• good training meant
fewer casualties
• effective battle tactics
• trained to build camps
and fortifications
Lifestyle
• soldiers built roads and
aqueducts
• soldiers could not
marry
• many soldiers had
unofficial families
Benefits
• soldiers were well paid
• auxiliaries could
become citizens
• soldiers got land when
they retired
Disadvantages
• 16-25 years of fighting
• many soldiers were far
from home
• risk of death in battle
or from disease
Homework
Learn the spelling of these
words…
1. legionary
2. aqueduct
3. auxiliary
4. training
5. tortoise