Rome, Sweet Rome

...there is no doubt that a 2200 strong force of marines could defeat the Roman empire...I say we take it a step farther and hit the empire with an energetic 3 year old boy with a runny nose - see how long they last. I say they all be dead by March.

 

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It depends also very much on how the romans would consider themselves as part of Motherland !
People fighting for Motherland are hardly beatable, even by modern technology. History of the 20th century is full of stories like that

Q

 

"It would not take long for an intelligent human to figure out that when their god-like powers have limitations, then they will be dead meat."

Tell this to the North Korean populace, or any number of oppressed peoples. Dictators have remarkable ability to stay in power. If the marines come in and stay in total opposition to the Romans who continue to resist, the marines would run out of gas and ammo. But, would Romans continue to resist in the face of death? History shows people don't. They submit. The marines (and their offspring) could run Rome for a very long time by co-opting powerful Romans to join their side. It doesn't take many organized people with the power of life and death to run a large population. Witness history.

 

Wow, some great variables have entered: germ warfare, decapitating the heirarachy; great stuff! My comments were solely based on short-term military strength between the two militaries. This all great stuff!

 

@Valentinian , Alegandron says it all. The question wasn't of keeping power by corrupting elits but of an army fighting another one and see what happens !
If I understand correctly

Q

 

Well, this "anacronic" subject has also been discussed in some way by one of Julius Caesar greatest fan, Napoleon. He made a note in his own copy of the "Bellum Gallicum" (he always carried it with him) which said that he could defeat any Caesarian legion with only one from his own army. But, If I recall correctly, he mention that it was not only because of their greater firepower (they used guns an cannons, but also swords as well), but because of their training and discipline which matched or even surpassed roman discipline. It was quite a statement if you ask me.

My opinion is that Marines could swiftly overthrown Augustus and take control. Remember how scared romans were when they first saw an elephant, now try to imagine how would legions feel when someone would kill them loud and "touchlessly" in an instant. What kind of sorcery is this?
Even with empty guns a group of marines could defeat armies after that.

 

This has been a fun read with some really interesting perspectives. In the Hollywood movie I hope that one of the marines is a coin collector.

I don’t know if I want to live in 23 BC Rome let alone conquer it. I suspect that the smell & lack of our modern conveniences might become quickly unpleasant.

Could we consider grabbing some breeding stock in 23 BC & go to someplace nice like Hawaii for an extended vacation? (Although Hawaii might be a bad choice due to volcanic activity I'm sure we could find someplace nice). It would be nice to return to Rome & hang with Jesus a little before retiring back to Hawaii. By the time Captain Cook arrives in Hawaii the marine civilization should have a formidable population & all their supply problems might be resolved.

 

Yes! Time traveling Marine numismatists! Blockbuster!

I imagine those things like smells were much better at the top then at the bottom.

 

Marines vs Romans, sounds like something the Syfy channel would show, perhaps back to back with Sharknado or something lol.

Personally I'm more interested in how ancient Romans would react to the modern day, especially with regards to our tech. Oh and also to all the subsequent history that they've missed.

 

marines could win on fear factor alone from the Abrams an snipers, when the first wave of attackers of say 100k plus slaves and provincials start dropping at 8k meters range from indirect fire of high explosive rounds, they will turn an run by the thousands, and for the ones that do come thru, along with reserves of legions, they will start dropping by the hundreds at 3500 meters range with sabot-discarding solids rounds, all while the marines sit back an watch, waiting for some to get into sniper range an give them another boost on the fear factor....

 

Great idea: Instead of Hawaii with the breeding stock, go to Australia for a continent of room, resources, a minor civilization to overcome; then build a powerbase, have time, resources, and room to ramp up your known technology without interference of other civilization. VIOLA: ATLANTIS.

 

Could any of the marines speak Latin or another ancient language? A few generations ago, an educated person would, but not so much now. Without Google Translate, I'd be lost.

 

My coin for the Atlantis Project:

Augustus:


Roman Empire
Augustus (25-23 BCE)
AR Quinarius
14.1mm, 1.9g
OBV: Bare head r, AVGUST behind
REV: P CARISI LEG, Victory standing r crowning trophy
REF: Sear 1642
Comment: Colony of Merida Augusta (Merida)

 

Well, apparently I am less adventurous than you guys...I wouldn't be caught within a 1000 paces of another person.

 

As much fun as the hypothetical is in this situation I expect that the marines would not last very long in the Roman period. The majority of things they ate would most likely weaken them dramatically and would not reside in their stomachs long. Given time to adjust maybe but they would have none of the immunity to the diseases of the period. I think that would get them before any real fighting would take place.

 

Kinda the HG Wells "War of the Worlds" theme. However, if we are DESCENDANTS of the past, would our systems be relatively immune? Curious...

 

marines would have this gig wrapped up before their MRE supply ran out...

 

Bacteria and viruses evolve as do we. Even international travel in the present day will affect most people.

The reverse could also be true. The marines could bring something back causing the next plague.

 

Food supply will run out eventually. There is no mention of them getting back to the present. They still have to go to the bathroom. Even the smallest of wounds could do it.

They may win the battle against the Romans which militarily I expect they would unless they waste their resources but I still think disease would win out long term.

It would be fun reading the contemporary written account of such a force. This devastating force that after a year suddenly disappears. I bet they would scare Roman children with them like the boogeyman.

 

Who said anything about the marines being able to come back? The Roman soldiers who survived wars of that day got retired to Nemausus and had coins showing crocodiles struck for their use. Modern people transported to antiquity would be more remote than the group of one way Mars volunteers. It is a fun concept to use for fiction but we have to remember that 'what if' scenarios are really "what if---but aint".