ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Technological history of the Roman military

Ok kiddo, let's talk about the Roman military and their cool tools and gadgets.

Back in the olden days, the Romans were pretty good at fighting wars and battles. One of the reasons why they were so successful was because they had some really neat inventions that helped them out.

Let's start with the most basic thing: the sword. The Romans had a special kind of sword called the gladius, which was shorter and thicker than other swords. This made it easier to use in close combat and made the Romans very deadly when fighting up close.

But swords weren't the only weapons the Romans used. They also had a type of javelin called a pilum which was designed to penetrate enemy shields and armor. This made it harder for their opponents to protect themselves and made it easier for the Romans to win battles.

Now, let's talk about some cooler stuff. The Romans had a really cool invention called the ballista. It was like a giant crossbow that could shoot big arrows or even stones at enemy troops or fortifications. This made it easier for the Romans to attack and break down walls or barricades.

Another neat invention was the scorpion. This was a big bow that could shoot arrows or bolts at a high rate of speed. It was sort of like a machine gun, but instead of bullets, it shot arrows.

The Roman military also had some cool machines that they used to move around, like chariots and horse-drawn wagons. They also used siege engines like battering rams and siege towers to break down enemy walls and defenses.

Now, while all these inventions were really neat, the Romans also had some impressive tactics that helped them win battles. They organized their troops into different formations and had experienced officers give orders to their soldiers. This made it easier for them to respond to different situations and made them more effective in battle.

So, that's a basic overview of the technological history of the Roman military. They had some really cool weapons and machines that helped them win battles, but they also had smart tactics and organization that made them successful.