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Spartan ArmorTheir shields consisted of wood and leather with the face completely covered in a thin sheet of stressed bronze (881004), which was enough to strengthen the shield, but did not add so much weight as to make it useless. Each shield was round and approx 36 - 38 according to some unearthed examples. Legend says that a warrior was given his shield by his mother and instructed to come back with it or on it. The shield was considered th...

During the wild melee of battle, ranks mixed and battle often time broke down into a series of multiple duels or multi-soldier brawls. This confusion was perfect for a man on horseback with a sharp sword. The beast would cut a wide path and he could wade into almost any part of the battle he wanted and when he did you needed him to be from your camp or all was lost. Covered in mail dealing blows down on a lightly armed man the knight on horseback...

From about 100 BC onwards, Legionaries received the sum of 225 denarii a year for their service. (The denarius was a silver coin with a weight of approx. 4.5 grams. Its initial value was put at 10 asses, yep asses, giving the denarius its name which translates to "containing ten".) This basic rate remained unchanged for many years until Domitian increased it to 300 denarii. There was no further rise until the time of Septimius Severus, who increa...