No blog post this week, folks, as I am both fiercely busy and - by the time this goes up - out of town. We'll be back to our regular schedule next week, with the next big topic I want to tackle being what a shield wall is and how it actually functions on a … Continue reading Gap Week: December 1, 2023
Author: Bret Devereaux
Collections: Roman Infantry Tactics: Why the Pilum and not a Spear?
This week's post is intended to answer a question which came up in response to the last post looking at the most common type of Mediterranean spear, which to put it simply is: what is up with the odd Roman heavy infantry kit built around a sword and two javelins (albeit two javelins of an … Continue reading Collections: Roman Infantry Tactics: Why the Pilum and not a Spear?
Fireside Friday, November 17, 2023
Hey folks! Fireside this week! I was hoping to have a post on Roman infantry tactics this week, in particular the oddity of the Romans not using spear-and-shield infantry (much), but it isn't ready yet and other things have me quite busy, so fireside it is. Fortunately, we have Ridley Scott to complain about. I … Continue reading Fireside Friday, November 17, 2023
Collections: The Mediterranean Iron Omni-Spear
This week, on a bit of a lark, we're going to discuss the most common weapon, by far, in the Iron Age Mediterranean (focusing on the period from the 8th to the 1st centuries BC): the humble, effective and ubiquitous thrusting spear. In particular, I want to discuss the striking fact that despite the wide … Continue reading Collections: The Mediterranean Iron Omni-Spear
Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Addenda: The Provinces
This is the second and (in theory) last addendum to our series on Roman civic governance (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, IV, V, A1). Having discussed how Rome handles those parts of Italy it controls but which were not part of the Roman Republic itself, we now look at how the Romans govern their overseas … Continue reading Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Addenda: The Provinces
Fireside Friday, October 27, 2023 (On Politics in Strategy)
Fireside this week! Next week we'll finally close out the addenda to the How to Roman Republic 101 series with a look at provincial governance, but I don't think that will be done in time for this week, so I'm throwing a fireside in here in the meantime. That said, I thought it might provide … Continue reading Fireside Friday, October 27, 2023 (On Politics in Strategy)
Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Addenda: The Socii
This week, as an addendum to our series on Roman civic governance (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, IV, V), we're going to take a look at how Rome handles those parts of Italy it controls but which it does not inhabit. These are Rome's 'allies' (socii), a euphemistic label for the Italian communities the Romans … Continue reading Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Addenda: The Socii
Collections: Ancient Greek and Phoenician Colonization
Davis senatum consuluit a.d. III Idus Octobris apud aedem Patreontis; de colonis Graecis et Punicis verba fecit... This week we're taking a brief look, by ACOUP Senate request, at Greek and Phoenician colonization in the ancient Mediterranean. In particular, the focus requested was on the relationship of these colonies with both the locals and their … Continue reading Collections: Ancient Greek and Phoenician Colonization
Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Part V: The Courts
This is the fifth part of our five part series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, IV) on the structure of the Roman Republic during the third and second centuries BC, the 'Middle Republic.' Last time we looked at the odd but very important role played by the ROman Senate as the central coordinating organ of … Continue reading Collections: How to Roman Republic 101, Part V: The Courts
Fireside Friday, September 29, 2023 (On Academic Hiring)
Fireside this week! I know we're all anxious to get to the last part of our look at the Roman Republic - a discussion of Roman courts and the legal system - but academic job season is upon us and I needed to take a week to focus on getting some of those applications out. … Continue reading Fireside Friday, September 29, 2023 (On Academic Hiring)