WEAPONS OF THE ROMANS

The weaponry of the Romans was both instrument and reflection of the phenomenal success of the army and state as whole. Changes in form and usage indicate not only technological advances, but the huge number and variety of enemies and fighting techniques encountered; a Roman victory would see the parallel absorption of a people into the Empire, and their weapons into army use. Drawing on literary, representational and archaeological sources ranging from Trojan's column to the graffiti on sling shots found scattered at battle sites, this work brings together all current information on the origin and evolutions of all the weapons of the legions, auxiliaries, and cavalry, from the start of the Republic until the decline of the empire.