Training

[Long lost Caesar]

Obviously ancient armies had to keep their troops fighting fit, but does anyone know what methods of training they did, how much and how often? Always wondered how soldiers were kept ready for war. Cheers

[TWFanatic]

Of course training methods would vary widely throughout the world as included in EB. The Romans are perhaps the most famous for their intense drill an discipline. “It would be fair enough to call their drills bloodless battles and their battles bloody drills,” wrote Josephus, the captured Jewish leader who became a Roman citizen in AD 67. When this intense discipline and training system broke down in the 4th century AD, the army too began to disintegrate.

Every new recruit was taught how to march in place and formation. Regular route marches of 20 Roman miles (about 30 km) in 5 hours and 24 miles (around 36 km) at the quickstep and in full gear helped keep a recruit fit. These marches combined with constant drilling kept the army at the peak of efficiency even at peacetime. The militia army of the early and mid Republic would of course differ, for rather than drilling and living in barracks the men would be living a civilian life until called to arms.

A legionary would start his training by jabbing at a wooden stake with a gladius made of ash or oak, since it was approximately twice the weight of the real thing. Later, he would move on to mock one on one combat before being entered into a unit and drilling in formation. Other skills, such as swimming, slinging, and pitching camp were taught as well. Marius began a tradition of appointing special sub-officers in each legion to teach specific technical skills, such as building roads.

I would be interested in hearing a specialist on some other cultures describe their training.

[Long lost Caesar]

Interesting, especially Josephus' view on the drills. And I agree, would be cool to hear an expert from another culture's views. (Not to do with army training, although it would have helped) Does anyone hear know if any culture had anything along the lines of weight training like we do these days?