Why Was the Roman Army so Successful

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Why was the Roman Army so successful? The Roman Army was hugely successful. Emperors relied on the army to help defend the empire but also to conquer other countries. As a result, the Roman Empire was vast, covering two thirds of the world at one time. There were lots of different reasons why the army was so good and when we look at them all together, it is clear to see why the army was so successful. I think the most important reason for the army’s success was that they were so well trained. Each soldier did a lot of training before they were able to join and not everyone could become a soldier. As part of their training, the soldiers were also very fit. Three times a month they had to go on a 30km run carrying kit which weighed 27kg. If the soldiers hadn’t been fit or well-trained then they would have been much easier to beat. The Roman army was also very well organised. All the soldiers worked together as a team and made formations like the ‘tortoise’. This was when they lined up in a rectangle and then soldiers used their shields to protect all around the outside and soldiers in the middle raised their shields above their heads. This enabled them to move in groups while still being protected. Their tactics were well planned and each soldier knew what they were doing at all times. Before an attack, the soldiers built their camp. They made sure it was secure and very well-prepared. This meant they were able to rest well and store all their equipment safely. It also meant it was very unlikely that they would get attacked during the night. Another reason for their success was that all soldiers in the army were excellent fighters. However, they also had other skills which helped keep the army working, such as bridge building, arrow-repair and surgery. They were able to build good camps, make good weapons and transport and also

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