They early on had a good model for a citizen army

@ManAnimal

<:poggers:583775485620781087>

They had a very militaristic ethos

In the Republic's glory days, literally everything decided by the Senate had to be approved by an Assembly of the People.

Of warrior farmers

Warrior farmers is pretty accurate. Mars was both a war god and a god of agriculture.

Particularly in early history. Where they tripped over people willing to serve for short campaigns

But that was issue

Lack of professional army

Meant that it was a minuteman effect

true; but when the political process functions correctly, the decisions makers DID have to endure the consequences

Well in the early history Rome used a conscripted levy.

And Roman's had a very hard time affording wars away from home

Jesus even in southern Italy

Voluntary service was introduced for the purposes of garrisoning the new lands and stuff. 6 years was conscripted service. 16 years was voluntary. Obviously they got bonuses and shit.

Augustus then ended conscription altogether and introduced a 25 year voluntary term of military service, 20 active and 5 reserve.

Discharge bonus was equivalent to about 13 years worth of pay.

I dont know I think you are not giving Roman infantry combat fair due

Later on their strategy changed primarily due to mariua reforms creating a proper standing army

Trained soldiers

Troop rotation

Heavy infantry with light auxiliaries

25 yr term.... that is crazy given life expenctancy in those days

While talking rome, you should see Lindybeinge's video/documentary about gladiators.

Excellent stuff.

Be careful of life expectancy in history GodMan.

It's skewed by high rates of infant mortality.

If you survived to the age of 10 you had a pretty good chance of seeing your 60s or even 70s.

Sometimes anus can be a real asshole
>> you wipe it clean
Anus: I am not done shitting

Pinochet did nothing wrong

You just didn't have great odds of surviving to the age of 10.

If you survived till year 5, you had good chances to last to 50

40-60% I think it was.

interesting

I actually wrote a paper on tb

13 and 50

Tuberculosis in ancient rome

It fucked up kids

if you survived to 5, your parents didn't fuck up too bad

It's estimated that 108 billion anatomically modern humans have lived in our species history. It's also estimated that half died before the age of 1.