Title: Marian reforms - Wikipedia
Headings: Marian reforms
Marian reforms
Contents
Background
Marian reforms
Impact of Marian reforms
Subsequent modifications
Further reading
References
External links

Content: Centuries of military campaigning throughout the Mediterranean and increasing invasions and uprisings across Roman territory had stretched the human and physical resources of the Roman army. The ' maniple ' militia (temporary service) used since the Samnite Wars (343-290BC) emerged as inadequate for the demands of Rome's expanding territory. Marius proposed radical alterations with the intention of creating a more professional, permanent and dynamic Roman army. The reforms revolutionized the Roman military machine, introducing the standardized legionary, the cohort unit and drastically altered the property and weaponry requirements for recruitment. As a consequence these reforms had a significant impact on the military supremacy of Rome, as well as unintentionally contributing to the social and political disruption of the Late Republic. These changes remained principally intact until the downfall of the Roman Empire, but there were structural and administrative adjustments, notably by Augustus and later by Diocletian. Contents
1 Background
2 Marian reforms
3 Impact of Marian reforms
4 Subsequent modifications
5 Further reading
6 References
7 External links
Background
The pre-Marius Roman army was organised as a conscript levy of all male citizens, similar to other Poleis especially in Greece. It was considered the duty of every physical able man to serve in the army when a campaign was called. The incumbent consuls would then be charged with the duty of recruiting an army from the eligible citizenry of the Republic, which would have to undergo intensive training until they could be truly considered an army. Armies would then gain experiences during their campaigning, until they were disbanded with the end of the war.