The technology history of the Roman military covers the development of and application of technologies for use in the armies and navies of Rome from the Roman Republic to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The rise of Hellenism and the Roman Republic are generally seen as signalling the end of the Iron Age in the mediterranean. Their iron-working was enhanced by a process known as carburization, the Romans made use of the better properties in their armaments, and the 1300 years of Roman military technology saw radical changes in technology. The Roman armies of the early empire were much better equipped than early republican armies. Metals used for arms and armour included primarily iron, bronze and brass. For construction, the army used wood, earth and stone. The later use of concrete i