Lesson plan
Discens
A discens ( ) was a soldier of the military of ancient Rome who was in training to become an immunis, or specialist within the army. Immunes took up the trades and skills of engineers, field medics, carpenters, and craftsmen. However, they were also fully trained and would be expected to fight in the infantry or cavalry if necessary. The discentes were probably exempted, like the immunes, from standard combat and camp duties since their main occupation would have been time-consuming technical training. Some known classes include: * Discens Architecti - Trainee engineer or artillerist. * Discens Armaturae - Trainee weapons instructor. * Discens Aquiliferum (or Aquiliferorum) - Trainee eagle standard-bearer. * Discens Bucinatorem - Trainee trumpeter. * Discens Capsariorum - Trainee medical orderly. * Discens Epibatae - Trainee marine. * Discens Equitum - Trainee cavalryman. * Discens Lanchiariorum - Trainee javelin-thrower. * Discens Mensorem - Trainee surveyor. * Discens Phalangarium - A soldier training as a phalangarius during the 3rd century AD several experiments were conducted with Macedonian phalanx tactics, apparently requiring special training in weapons handling and drill. * Discens Signiferorum (or discentes signiferorum) - Trainee standard-bearer.
Article summary
A discens ( ) was a soldier of the military of ancient Rome who was in training to become an immunis, or specialist within the army. Immunes took up the trades and skills of engineers, field medics, carpenters, and craftsmen. However, they were also fully trained and would be expected to fight in the infantry or cavalry if necessary. The discentes were probably exempted, like the immunes, from standard combat and camp duties since their main occupation would have been time-consuming technical training. Some known classes include: * Discens Architecti - Trainee engineer or artillerist. * Discens Armaturae - Trainee weapons instructor. * Discens Aquiliferum (or Aquiliferorum) - Trainee eagle standard-bearer. * Discens Bucinatorem - Trainee trumpeter. * Discens Capsariorum - Trainee medical orderly. * Discens Epibatae - Trainee marine. * Discens Equitum - Trainee cavalryman. * Discens Lanchiariorum - Trainee javelin-thrower. * Discens Mensorem - Trainee surveyor. * Discens Phalangarium - A soldier training as a phalangarius during the 3rd century AD several experiments were conducted with Macedonian phalanx tactics, apparently requiring special training in weapons handling and drill. * Discens Signiferorum (or discentes signiferorum) - Trainee standard-bearer.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.