From the heart of Italy rose an empire that would dominate the Old World for more than a thousand years, permanently altering the course of history. A key part of the empire's control and endurance was its military, and at the heart of that military were the Roman armies. These arrangements of overwhelming infantry, named after the Latin word 'legio' meaning 'levy of soldiers', were more than fair the spine of Rome's military might. They were a reflection of Roman society, reflecting its evolution from a city-state to a vast empire, from a volunteer army of citizens to a skilled armed force, and embodying Rome's soul of versatility, learning and progress. The Roman armies were not an inactive institution. They evolved over the centuries in response to external dangers, internal conflicts, innovative engines and societal changes, becoming increasingly advanced weapons of war. Their improvement has not been straightforward or uniform, but has been shaped by the particular challenges of particular periods and places. All through these changes, be that as it may, they remained an effective image of the Roman specialist and a fundamental instrument of Roman statecraft.
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