Hardcore History podcast (1 Viewer)

[Go for Broke]

I'm listening to a 6-hour podcast about Caesar destroying the Gauls. Quite interesting. History, weapons, battle tactics. Brutal. For instance, the Roman spear would bend on impact, so if launched and landed on shields, the bent spear would drag the shield down and the Gauls would have to drop their shields. Give it a listen if you got six hours.

 

[hotel3alpha]

I'm listening to a 6-hour podcast about Caesar destroying the Gauls. Quite interesting. History, weapons, battle tactics. Brutal. For instance, the Roman spear would bend on impact, so if launched and landed on shields, the bent spear would drag the shield down and the Gauls would have to drop their shields. Give it a listen if you got six hours.

GFB,

What do you mean "drag the shield down" by the bent spear. I cannot imagine it brother.

John from Texas

 

[Go for Broke]

Apparently, the Roman javelin is heavy and when bent, the heavy part would droop to the ground. After the Romans threw their javelins they would rush the Gaul's line. The Gauls would hardly have time to pull the spears out of their shields and would drop them to face the oncoming enemy. That's my interpretation of what the podcast said. Give it a listen. Good insight to ancient warfare. The narrator makes it enjoyable.

 

[Andanna]

Correct. It was very hard to pull out the spear from the wooden shield. So you would have to drop the shield. Cheruskii here.