06-10-2013, 05:59 PM
Diocle, my friend, you seem to be coming out very strongly here, but I don't really think that what everyone is saying is that every single Roman legionary was clad head-to-toe in armor (more specifically hamata or segmentata). In fact, from what I've seen over the years, the consensus from RAT would be that the Roman military was almost certainly much more varied in equipment and appearance than most would believe. As well, I don't doubt the use of organic elements in Roman armor, including leather being used for padded arming garments (such as a subarmalis). However, what I do have a problem with is a Roman leather cuirass - I simply believe we have no reason to believe that the Romans made them at all. Perhaps someday I will have reason to believe so, but as of the moment I have seen nothing even remotely convincing (even in statue/artistic form).
However, regarding it being a physical possibility that the Romans could have supplied armies to such an encompassing extent with iron armor - I would say never underestimate their industry and organizational capabilities. From everything that I've seen (primarily from discussions on RAT) regarding Roman economy and production, it really is shocking how great the downfall of civilization was post Rome. As the years progress, I believe the trend amongst academic studies on the scale and capacity of the Roman economy tends to dispel earlier notions of their limitations and broadens their economic functions dramatically.
This is not to say that I disagree with the Romans utilizing various forms of textiles and hides in their war kit, but I do believe the best form of defense was in metallic armor, and the Roman economy and later the Roman state was quite capable of supplying the legions with a high degree of such protection.
However, regarding it being a physical possibility that the Romans could have supplied armies to such an encompassing extent with iron armor - I would say never underestimate their industry and organizational capabilities. From everything that I've seen (primarily from discussions on RAT) regarding Roman economy and production, it really is shocking how great the downfall of civilization was post Rome. As the years progress, I believe the trend amongst academic studies on the scale and capacity of the Roman economy tends to dispel earlier notions of their limitations and broadens their economic functions dramatically.
This is not to say that I disagree with the Romans utilizing various forms of textiles and hides in their war kit, but I do believe the best form of defense was in metallic armor, and the Roman economy and later the Roman state was quite capable of supplying the legions with a high degree of such protection.
Alexander
