From Citizen Militia to Professional Military: Transformation of the Roman Army

摘要

The late Roman Republic faced what seemed to be unsolvable social problems, and all the attempts made by politicians from all parties failed or made the situation worse. The civil crisis became so serious that the security and survival of the state were at stake. The key to societal stability was professionalization of the Roman military. This reform brought back stability to a state destabilized by internal conflicts and civil wars. The Roman army grew, and it achieved a level of efficiency and competence that allowed it to expand the Roman Empire throughout most of the known world. The Roman Empire reached its zenith in A.D. 116, only two centuries after the first military reforms began. After an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 describes the beginning of the Roman Republic, its government, and its military forces. Chapter 3 addresses the decline of the Roman Republic, including reforms by the Gracchus; Gaius Marius and reforms of the Roman military; and civil war, including social war, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the First Triumvirate, and the Second Triumvirate. Chapter 4 discusses the age of Augustus, the Roman Imperial Army, and the security of the Roman Empire.