Roman

The military system of Rome conquered half the known world. At its height, the Roman Empire stretched from Spain to Palestine and England to Egypt. Roman legionaries were equipped with a cuirass and helmet of iron, a large curved shield, a type of javelin called a pilum, and a gladius, or short sword. They fought in disciplined, spaced ranks that permitted men in the rear to step forward and relieve tired men in the front line, keeping fresh men in contact with the enemy.

Later in the Roman Empire, cavalry became more and more important. In time, it replaced the infantry legions as the primary weapon of the empire. The emphasis on cavalry led to the development of longer swords and the use of heavier lances in shock charges.

Rome’s civilized enemies were equipped in much the same way as her own legions. However, the empire was also confronted with barbaric Gauls, Celts, and Germans. Their warriors often fought with no armor and only a spear and shield. It wasn’t until the decline of the empire that the legions could be defeated by their ill-equipped foes.

Roman Cultures

	Battle axe	5 gp
	Bow
	Arrow, flight	3 sp/12
	Composite short bow	75 gp
	Long bow	75 gp
	Short bow	30 gp
	Cestus	1 gp
	Dagger	2 gp
	Dart	5 sp
	Hand/throwing axe	1 gp
	Javelin	5 sp
	Lance,
	light	6 gp
	medium	10 gp
	Mace, footman’s	8 gp
	Mace, horseman’s	5 gp
	Net	5 gp
	Pilum	1 gp
	Quarterstaff	—
	Spear	8 sp
	Spear, long	5 gp
	Staff sling	2 sp
	Stinkpot	1 sp
	Stone	—
	Sword
	Broadsword	15 gp
	Drusus	50 gp
	Gladius	10 gp
	Spatha	15 gp
	Trident	15 gp
	Warhammer	2 gp

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