03-06-2007, 03:35 PM
Quote:I'm sure it probably has been mentioned before but I think the money of the Empire has something to do with it. There were certainly problems with
finances as the Empire expanded. More mouths to feed,troops to pay,bad years of supply could wreak havok with production on all levels. It's probably cheaper to make wire than plate.Less wood needed to stoke fires for forges, and armies of slaves could sit and crank out rings it seems. We've discussed previously how plate could have been made needing large pressing/rolling equipment,etc. The hardest thing about making maille seems to be time consumption. I know it's simplistic and not the whole answer I'm sure but surely a possible cause for change back to earlier forms of protection.
Could the replacement of the segmentata by the hamata be somehow connected to the slowly decline of the roman empire?
