The Roman army, famous for its discipline, organization and innovation in both weapons and tactics, allowed Rome to build and defend a huge empire, which for centuries would dominate the Mediterranean world and beyond (www.ancient.eu.com/Roman_Army/). The Roman armies were trained vigorously and showed no slowdown. Soldiers were taught ferocious fighting styles and the training was harsh, as were the reprimands for failure in battle. The Roman army wanted to keep the best soldiers out of the new recruits and get rid of the ones that wouldn't last, so they would put the recruits on the front lines of the battles to narrow the numbers, keeping those that survived. . The idea was that if they lost a veteran soldier on the front lines, it would be a big loss, but if it was a recruit, the loss wouldn't be a big deal. If the recruits survived, they would become experts and make a great addition to the army. They also did this to prevent recruits from fleeing the battle if they started losing, because they would have to run through the rest of the army, most likely leading to their deaths. When the Roman Empire needed soldiers, they raised a red flag, and the news spread throughout Rome. Only taxpaying landowners were subject to military service, as only they were believed to have reason to fight (www.roman-empire.net/army/becoming.html). Those between the ages of seventeen and forty-six had to serve. If you had served a certain number of campaigns or earned the right, you didn't have to fight. The consuls would then start with the wealthy class, working down the classes to choose their soldiers. These recruits would take the oath of allegiance to complete the transformation from citizen to soldier. ...... half of the card ...... er it was a heavy shield that weighed about ten kilograms and was used frequently, both in defense and attack. It was used to ram enemies and as cover, so that soldiers could fight from behind. It was also used in the previously mentioned testudo tactic. Overall, it was one of the most important parts of a soldier's “attire”. There were some exceptions with some armor. For example, a vexillarius, or flag bearer, would be allowed to wear the flag on his back, allowing him to carry the flag and fight if necessary. Naturally, the higher a soldier's rank, the better his armor. Bottom line, the Roman army was not a force to be trifled with. Known as one of the most successful armies ever, it instilled fear in its enemies, and for good reason. Romulus, the one who is said to have created the army, made Rome proud and helped the empire prosper for many years.