Roman and Macedonian Forces and Technology
x By the time of Cynoscephalae, a new Roman army, with better
weapons, better tactics, and more training, was in place. In its
earliest phase, it probably
fought in something like the
phalanx used by the Greeks,
but by the late 4th century
B.C., it had begun to use a
system sometimes called the
manipular army.
x In this system, the army was
drawn up in subunits called
maniples, blocks of 120 men
arranged into three lines on
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like formation.
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the hastati, wore a helmet
and had a large oblong or
rectangular shield called
a scutum. They were
armed with javelins and
the gladius. The second
line, the principes, were
similarly equipped. The third line, the triarii, had longer
thrusting spears and may have been composed of older men.o There were also groups of lightly armed skirmishers called
velites and a contingent of cavalry.o In combat, the maniples used a loose formation that allowed
soldiers in the back ranks to come forward and replace those
in the front row, thus keeping fresh those actually engaged in
WKH¿JKWLQJAround the time of
Cynoscephalae, the Roman
military made the transition from
a primarily citizen militia to a
professional standing army.© Getty Images/Photos.com/Thinkstock.