PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

Roman Legions
Soldiers being treated at a military hospital – shown on Trajan’s column in Rome. Trajan was a Spaniard and the
first Roman Emperor from one of Rome’s conquered countries.
Rome built an empire with its superb armies but not available in military camps in remote corners of
it wasn’t just their weapons and training. The the Empire, so some of the world’s first hospitals were
Romans realised that healthy men meant healthy built in the most unlikely places. A battle scene
soldiers. They learnt much about medicine from the depicted on a Roman monument shows a ‘doctor’
conquered, more cultured Greeks, who were aware (medicus) bandaging the wounds of a fallen
of the importance of rest in the recovery process of legionary, for the ordinary soldiers were also cared
soldiers wounded in battle. The Romans used simple for. These men weren’t trained doctors but
surgical tools and drugs and set up hospitals in experienced soldiers who had gained valuable
military camps throughout the Empire. Sickness in medical skills during their many years in the legions.
Rome was dealt with in the home but this care was
Activity Box
1. Why do you think the earliest hospitals were set up in military camps?
2. Why weren’t hospitals found in early Rome?
Viewing Sample
Each century (80–100 men) had its own standard and it was only used
when the unit went into battle. The loss of its eagle standard was
humiliating for a Roman legion.
Make your own standard with a partner. Use paper picnic plates and
rectangular pieces of cardboard. Decorate them with paint, coloured paper
and aluminium foil. An old broom handle will do for the shaft.
Prim-Ed Publishing www.prim-ed.com Ancient Rome – 17 –