By this period the Roman Republic had ended its Civil Wars, from which Augustus emerged victorious as Emperor of Rome. Already dominant around the Mediterranean, Rome set about strengthening her grip on areas further North and East engaging in conflicts with many different opponents.
This is the period most people think of when they think of Ancient Rome and her soldiers in their segmented armor with big, curved, rectangular shields. While the legionaries were the core of the Roman Army, there were typically about as many auxiliary troops that fought alongside the Legion. Mainly infantry, or less often cavalry in chainmail shirts with a spear and an oval shield, along with other auxiliaries armed with bows or slings. In both sieges and open battle Romans also typically brought their war engines to bear. As well as troops from within the Empire, the Romans were also known to field tribal troops from outside their borders under native or Roman officers.
Best known from Trajan's Column in Rome, which commemorates Trajan's vi