segmentata

[Matthew]

Don't get me wrong, I think Segmentata provides better over all protection than Hamata, but I think the reasons for its introduction and eventual disappearance are better explained by strategic and tactical changes in the context of changing political and economic circumstances. Of course, there is no way of definitively proving any such thing, it's all just theoretical tempered by what seems most likely to me.

Nor would I entirely rule out the possibility that Segmentata is a response to a change in weaponry, but I don't put much stock in it as a response to something as specific as Gallic and non Gallic sword types, especially given the very wide ranging sorts of enemies faced by Rome over the Republican and Imperial periods.

Romans weren't using gladii against each other until the Civil Wars started by Caesar. No need. Celtic swords were rubbish, and mail sufficed plenty probably.

True, to some extent, but Rome fought on more fronts than Gaul. The Carthaginians in particular are reported by Polybius as employing captured Roman arms. Also, there were wars between Romans before Caesar, not to mention the so called Social War.

Matthew James Stanham