04-11-2013, 07:43 PM
Quote:All these changes (sword right-left and short-long, shield rectangular-oval, pilum to spear) relate to what Simon James (in Rome and the Sword) calls the 'Antonine Revolution' in Roman arms.
It has been reading Simon James' book that has me thinking about this. Although I'm not sure revolution is the right word for a process that begin in the mid 100s and continued through to the mid 200s!
Certainly it did happen, but not everywhere at the same speed, which fits a model of units taking up the new fighting styles bit by bit. And elements such as pila and curved shields and short swords (the 3rd century 'semi-spathae') still continued in use throughout the first few decades of the 3rd century so some units, or troops within units, or missions carried out by units, still required the use of these bits of tried and tested kit.
But the switching of the sword seems to be complete by 200, I can't think of a grave stelae with a sword on the right from then on.
Paul Elliott
Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294
Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294
Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
