Roman Military Medicine

990 Words4 Pages
Roman military medicine was the apex of medicinal knowledge in Ancient times. The development of Roman military medicine owes its advancements by and large to the context of which it was conceived and matured in; a society of organized and pragmatic people. Roman pragmatism, order, and organizational stability over a long period of time prompted perfect conditions for the development of a military medical system that was so advanced, that it was only reproduced in modern times. Although many secrets were lost after the fall of the Western Empire (and were re-invented much later), the Roman Empire still made an enormously vast contribution of knowledge and ingenuity to the development of military medicine, and medicine as a whole. Rome…show more content…
The first being the time of the Roman Republic until it dissolved; from 500 bce to 28 bce. And the second being the establishment of the Roman Imperium under Augustus, until the fall of the Western Empire; from 28 bce to 466 ce. Both periods, of course, reflect the advancements of Roman medicine in general. But unlike many other cultures of the time where religious/civilian medical advancement was then implemented in military ranks, Rome was quite the opposite. The medical practices of the Roman Army were a major influence on the development of medicine in the rest of Roman…show more content…
Physicians often followed the Legion on the move, looking to get experience so they can one day open their own medical practice. But it was usually only the highest of Commanders that could afford to be seen by a physician, and they regularly hired physicians for personal use. This is not to say that Roman Commanders did not care about their wounded men. In fact, individual Commanders took it upon themselves to care for their wounded, enough set up rudimentary medical systems of combat medics for a soldier to expect someone to treat and dress his wounds rather than himself. Julius Caesar made arrangements for evacuating his wounded in wagons, billeting them in private houses, and sending some of them on convalescent leave. Roman Commanders often showed great care and concern for their wounded. Roman Commanders recognized that if the soldier was not cared for, then he would not fight well. Many Commanders put their personal resources at the disposal of the wounded as a way of ensuring their troops’
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