Roman Soldiers Rewards And Punishment Summary

In this piece written by Polybius, illustrates how Rome’s concept of rewards and punishment established a great sense of loyalty and dedication. Inside their interpretation of punishment, there are two crucial components. The first is the rules that should never be broken, then the next is the consequences that strikes fear into the fellow soldiers once that line had been crossed. The night watchmen are a good example. For instance, if a soldier is on night watch. He shall never leave his post no matter the circumstance because the punishment for his cowardice action is far worse than facing death itself. Those who faced the punishments would leave themselves with nothing and their family would be forever look down upon. These roman soldiers …show more content…
This reading shows that any soldier who shows any act of exceptional courage will be honored and rewarded by his tribunal and fellow soldiers. For instance, each gift or celebration had a different level of value or importance. The man who has wounded another in battle shall be given a spear, and for those who strip and kill their enemies are given a cup. However, these presentations are not made to the men who have wounded or stripped an enemy during a practice battle, or at the raid of a city, but to the men during a skirmish or some similar situation in which there is no necessity to engage in single combat, or to those who have voluntarily and exposed themselves to danger. For these men who received these gifts not only enjoy great prestige in the army and soon in their homes, but they are also chosen for precedence in religious processions when they return home. However, another tactic in initiating their loyalty is by the threat of not only ruining the soldier's life but their friends and families. As we’ve seen in the reading any soldier that shows any sign of cowardice is immediately banned from civilization and his family’s name would be damned forever. Polybius shows us that this is a major aspect into the soldier's loyalty at the heart of war as they are given no room to run and it is either die an honorable death or one of a