Assorted Historical Questions - Gertrude et al, ask them here!

[Atanamir]

The first emperors campaigned heavily in Germany. The problem was not one of military might. The problem was that it was very difficult to garrison a permanent army in Germany. Armies require food, food requires agriculture, and Germany had very little of the latter. Classical logistics being what they were (no highways, freight trucks or refrigerators), the Romans could only campaign for short times, and the lack of population centers made it hard to conquer anything of value and leave a lasting impression.

I am less sure why the Romans failed to conquer the Parthians, but it was not for want of trying. I guess it was logistics again: the Parthians could fall back easily and recapture their losses while the Romans needed to resupply. Off course, the heavy-infantry based army of the Romans was not the best counter to Parthia's horse archers.

Then there is the political issue: an Emperor often could not leave Rome for extended periods for fear that an ambitious general would start a civil war. He could send others to wage the war for him, however that was a good way of breeding ambitious generals that could start a civil war.

That is a good answer....

But when Julius Caesar was conquering the gaul, was there same situations like in in Germany?? or diferent??....