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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dispater" data-source="post: 170047" data-attributes="member: 683">Weren't armies in the anitquity quite large? I think Alexander the great fielded hundred thousands of troops, as well did the Persians, who had incredible ammounts of cavalry. After winning a battle, Alexander ordered the execution of around 10.000 greek mercenaries who had fought on the other side. Just like that. As SHARK mentions, the Romans lost 80.000 men at Cannae and still managed to deal with Hannibal.The Romans were indeed great, but I am left with the impression that in the late days of the western roman empire they were so spoiled by 'bread and circus' that they didn't even bother to defend their empire. Instead they paid of german mercenaries, who eventually sacked Rome instead. I have read somewhere, that romans complained to the authorities after a town had been plundered, that 'they wanted its circus rebuilt rather than its walls'. Anyhow, the western roman empire stagnated (while the eastern remained), much due to a failing government but also, I think, a lack of will among the people. Instead, the fate of europe laid in the hands of those who had been summoned to defend the romans.The dark ages were perhaps not all that dark. In the 8th centuryKarl the great, king of the franks (and later emperor of the western roman empire), was no barbarian knight. Under his rule he united the gauls, saxons, franks, goths and other german folk as well as he took northern italy and Rome in his protection. Of course, the empire he made was shattered by civil wars after his death, but in this was laid the foundations for modern europe and its borders.Just my 2c.-Dispater</blockquote>

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