The armed forces of ancient Rome were a living organism that was constantly changing, as the Romans were known for their adaptability. The reforms were numerous, but those introduced by Gaius Marius meant a real revolution in the armed forces of ancient Rome. He created an army that today resembles modern armed forces in many aspects. The influence can be detected in several elements, including the method of recruitment, training, weapons and equipment, the structure of the armed forces and in the ranks worn by the soldiers. The similarities that can be seen between the modern and Roman armed forces (107 – 27 BC) are also extremely impressive due to the fact, that more than 2,000 years have passed since the Marian reforms. Some of Marius’s reforms became the foundation of modern armed forces and marked the formation of a professional army. characterized by salary, career building, an organized structure, a hierarchical command structure, and standardized equipment, weapons, and training.
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