12-02-2010, 10:21 PM
Overall, I don't really see the Gladius as Rome's 'ingenious winning weapon'. If used aggressively it might have been passable in combat, combined with good armor and significant training it might have even been successful but it was far from the ideal combat weapon. Instead I would attribute Roman military prowess more to their use of the pilum, a sturdy javelin which could punch clean through shields and armor yet also made a very effective infantry spear.
Henry O.
