Blackwell Reference Online

Ancient Rome was a highly militaristic culture, at war almost annually throughout the period of the republic. The expert contributors to this Companion delve into this culture, offering an extensive account of the Roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later Roman Empire. Taking account of the latest scholarly and archaeological research, they examine the recruitment, training, organization, tactics, and weaponry that contributed to Rome's effectiveness as a fighting machine.

The Companion recognizes that, as a military force, the Roman army functioned in a landscape and was an integral part of Roman politics and society. The contributors therefore also explore the ecological, economic, social, and political factors that help to explain the characteristic features of the army and its development over time, covering such topics as: demography and manpower, the army as a community, the religions of the soldiers, the emperor as military commander, and veterans in society.