Expert: Maria - 8/16/2004

Question
I am looking for resources/informations regarding the physical training for soldiers in Ancient Greece and/or Rome.  Any suggestions?  Thank you.

Answer
Hello,

Here are some suggestions about Roman/Greek military training.

ROME.
As for Rome, I must point out that all information about military training  is based on  accounts by Tacitus, Cassius Dio and other historians, as well as Vegetius (lived around 390 AD) the author of the  Roman military training manual, i.e. 'Epitoma Rei Militaris'(‘summary of military matters').
http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/archive/arma/contents/text/technica/veg1.htm )

For Marching and Physical Training, Weapons Training, Recruitment, etc. in the Roman Empire see:

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/training.html

http://infohistory.com/rome.shtml#legion

http://www.bible-history.com/rome/RomeThe_Roman_Legions.htm

http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/mil_soldiers_life.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_army_and_warfare.htm

http://www.numbera.com/rome/strategy/resource.aspx

http://cdsjcl.f2g.net/military.html

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army-pictures.html


For Roman Military History : primary and secondary sources see:
http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/europe/ancient_rome/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman...

GREECE.
First of all two influential city-states developed very different ways of life in ancient Greece. In fact while Athens set up a limited democracy and encouraged the exploration of many areas of knowledge, Sparta became a military state with a rigid system of rule; military training began at age 7 (boys); boys lived into barracks - at age 20 could marry, but lived in the barracks for another 10 years. At age 20, Spartan boys became warriors called hoplites. Like other Greeks, the Spartans fought in massed ranks or phalanxes that hoped to scatter the enemy by sheer weight of numbers and then slaughter them individually. Backed up by archers and light-armed troops, the hoplite phalanx remained the most important fighting unit for centuries. They advanced in close formation while protected by their overlapping shields.

For military training and weaponry see:

http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/Year%201/GalleryDocs-Pics/LaymanBrett.PDF

http://www.studyworld.com/newsite/ReportEssay/History/European%5CSpartan_Warfare...

http://www-adm.pdx.edu/user/sinq/greekciv2/sport/army/seanh.htm

http://www.7cs.com/greece/grkwpns.htm

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greekweapons/

http://lala.essortment.com/ancientgreekwa_rwea.htm

Hope these suggestions are helpful to you.

Best regards
Maria