Roman Military Might: Organization, Armament, and Strategy
The Roman Army
The Romans, skilled in peacetime organization, demonstrated equal prowess in times of war. Their quest for expansion and conquest typically involved conflicts, both internal and external. The Romans were well-prepared for war and maintained highly organized armies.
Organization of the Roman Army
From the second century BC, the army became permanent, and its commanders professionalized.
Composition
- The highest tactical unit of the Roman army was the legion (approximately 6,000 men).
- Each
Key Historical Terms of Spain: From Absolutism to the Civil War
Decretos de Nueva Planta
A set of centralizing administrative and legal policies or laws issued by King Philip V between 1711 and 1716. These decrees abolished the privileges of self-governing institutions of the Crown of Aragon (comprising the territories of Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands) and implemented a centralized system and the absolute power of the king.
The Enlightenment
A cultural and ideological movement that developed in the 18th century (also known as the Age of
Read MoreEssential Concepts in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies
Occupation Colonies
An occupation colony is a type of colony occupied by another nation with hostility in order to exploit its natural resources and its native people. Indigenous people were in the majority but were administered by a foreign power.
Exploitation Colonies / Settler Colonialism
Exploitation colonialism is the national economic policy of conquering a country in order to exploit its natural resources and its native population. This practice contrasts with settler colonialism, which is the
Read MoreThe End of the Cold War: Global Transformations and New Eras
The End of the Cold War and Global Transformations
Gorbachev’s Reforms and the End of the Soviet Bloc
The reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev marked a pivotal moment in the decline of the communist bloc.
Political and Foreign Policy Reforms
- Began the democratization of the USSR.
- Granted more autonomy to the republics.
- In foreign policy, proclaimed unilateral disarmament of the USSR, which allowed the resumption of disarmament talks with the U.S.
- The Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan.
Economic Reforms
Read MoreSpain’s 19th Century Conflicts: Carlist War and Liberal Triennium
The First Carlist War (1833-1840)
Absolutist-friendly groups refused to recognize Isabel II as the legitimate successor to the throne and revolted against the government of Maria Cristina de Borbón. The rebels proclaimed Infante Don Carlos as king, thereby starting a civil war.
Opposing Factions and Ideologies
The traditionalist and anti-liberal Carlists encompassed part of the clergy, the gentry, and a peasant social base, representing a conservative and archaic society. The Regent Maria Cristina,
Read MoreHistorical Colonial Systems and Imperial Power Dynamics
Historical Colonial Systems
The system of colonial occupation could have public and private colonies:
Private Colonies
This involved the economic exploitation by a company. The main interest was profit. In newly discovered territories, settlers, belonging to a country, discovered the colony and were not accountable to the metropolis, imposing their own rules. For example, the Belgian Congo began as a private economic venture under Belgian colonization, with the Belgian King as the top shareholder.
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