Being a Roman Soldier Part 4
Social Science/History | Registration opens 8/10/2026 12:00 AM MST (Arizona)
The Roman Empire and its influence on Western civilization would not have been possible without the Roman soldier. First, this course will look at the historical development of the Roman army into the most successful fighting force the world had ever seen. Then we will explore the life of the typical Roman soldier at the height of the empire. What sorts of men joined this largely volunteer army, and what were the incentives to join? What equipment were the recruits given, and how were they trained? What was a typical day in the life of a soldier? What was it like to be in a battle? What did the soldiers do when they were not fighting? Did they have a family, and what did they do when they retired?
Bill Blaker
Bill Blaker is retired after a 45-year career as a research scientist and university professor. He has received teaching awards from Virginia Tech and Furman University. He has taught university courses in general science, biology, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, English composition, statistics, and philosophy. Now, he teaches anything he finds interesting.