School of War Ep 250: Jeremy Armstrong on Ancient Rome’s Myths and Warfare
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Nov 21, 2025 Jeremy Armstrong, a Professor of Classics & Ancient History at the University of Auckland and author of Children of Mars, delves into the fascinating history of early Rome. He explores the clan-based military structure and the personal nature of warfare, revealing how myths like those of Aeneas and Romulus shaped Roman identity and served political purposes. Armstrong emphasizes the significance of early republic transitions and the impact of trauma from events like the sack of Rome, illustrating the complex foundations of imperial ambitions in Rome's development.
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Homeric, Clan-Based Warfare
- Early Roman battles were clan-focused, Homeric spectacles where elites fought known rivals more for honor than mass slaughter.
- Armies were collections of family-based units, with dueling and visible audiences shaping combat behavior.
Founding Myths As Political Tools
- Aeneas and Romulus are late, strategic myths shaped around 300 BCE to bind communities and legitimize Roman expansion.
- Romans used these shared lineages to persuade other Mediterranean communities to accept Roman authority.
Rome As A Mobile Meeting Hub
- Early Rome functioned as a periodic meeting place or 'fairground', not a densely populated city-state.
- Temples and festivals structured schedules of trade and elite interaction more than permanent urban residency.
