05-30-2013, 01:34 PM
Mark wrote:
However, whilst I may certainly think many of your arguments are far too complicated and perhaps even border on the 'silly' - mainly because I am almost always of the opinion that military things are normally far more simplistic.....
It may seem silly to us, but the Romans took it very seriously. And as for simplicity, you and many others on this group have a far more complex Roman military organisation than my research shows. All my drills and methods of line replacement are so simply that new levies can be trained to do them in a couple of hours…if that. Everything about the Roman system is based on simplicity as Cicero makes clear:
"With the Greeks geometry was regarded with the utmost respect, and consequently none were held in greater honour than mathematicians, but we Romans have delimited the size of this art to the practical purposes of measuring and calculating."
Another point is everyone takes reference from all time periods and then tries to impose this information onto another time period to get an understanding of the Roman legion. I do get a giggle watching you guys mix and match your references concerning the legion’s organisation. Let me ask you a question, when do the primary sources start mentioning prior and posterior centuries?
Mark wrote:
When I post that 'little thesis' I will most certainly welcome your comments and counter arguments.
To prove you are incorrect I would have to provide more of my research which I am no longer willing to do. What I have provided in the past has not been acknowledged so there is no point. However, I am curious as to why members still keep going back to the Cavalry, Cohorts and Whatever Goes posting long after it has finished.
Mark wrote:
But please - let's not go down the route of - 'the sources don't say it, therefore it never happened'. That's just silly
I’ve had to put up with this also. The sources don’t tell us the Roman social system is Pythagorean based but I can prove it beyond any doubt over and over and over again. Most of the information is starring people in the eyes. As Professor Ridley said about my work “it’s hidden by its simplicity.”
However, whilst I may certainly think many of your arguments are far too complicated and perhaps even border on the 'silly' - mainly because I am almost always of the opinion that military things are normally far more simplistic.....
It may seem silly to us, but the Romans took it very seriously. And as for simplicity, you and many others on this group have a far more complex Roman military organisation than my research shows. All my drills and methods of line replacement are so simply that new levies can be trained to do them in a couple of hours…if that. Everything about the Roman system is based on simplicity as Cicero makes clear:
"With the Greeks geometry was regarded with the utmost respect, and consequently none were held in greater honour than mathematicians, but we Romans have delimited the size of this art to the practical purposes of measuring and calculating."
Another point is everyone takes reference from all time periods and then tries to impose this information onto another time period to get an understanding of the Roman legion. I do get a giggle watching you guys mix and match your references concerning the legion’s organisation. Let me ask you a question, when do the primary sources start mentioning prior and posterior centuries?
Mark wrote:
When I post that 'little thesis' I will most certainly welcome your comments and counter arguments.
To prove you are incorrect I would have to provide more of my research which I am no longer willing to do. What I have provided in the past has not been acknowledged so there is no point. However, I am curious as to why members still keep going back to the Cavalry, Cohorts and Whatever Goes posting long after it has finished.
Mark wrote:
But please - let's not go down the route of - 'the sources don't say it, therefore it never happened'. That's just silly
I’ve had to put up with this also. The sources don’t tell us the Roman social system is Pythagorean based but I can prove it beyond any doubt over and over and over again. Most of the information is starring people in the eyes. As Professor Ridley said about my work “it’s hidden by its simplicity.”
