Obviously this is just a fun hypothetical but I doubt the Romans could learn anything valuable even from an entire captured weapon system because they simply could not create the base materials to duplicate it. Modern steel is far beyond their reach, it would seem like alien technology.
On the other hand, the Romans were really, really good at adapting technologies and equipment from not only conquered peoples, but also their enemies. Remember when they simply copied Carthage’s ships and replaced Carthage as the dominant naval power in the Mediterranean?
The comparison does not hold up though. They were great at adapting same-era technology, but they would literally have to invent industrialisation and modern steel industry for them to be able to replicate a modern day machinegun. That is not something they would be able to do just by examining the object.
Steel is probably the matter of least concern, here. You can make a gun out of theoretically near-anything, so long as its service life is not a concern. Happening upon the formula for gunpowder and mercury fulminate by mere observation, though, would be like winning the lottery after being given a free ticket as a promo for being the millionth person to walk through the convenience store doors.
Obviously this is just a fun hypothetical but I doubt the Romans could learn anything valuable even from an entire captured weapon system because they simply could not create the base materials to duplicate it. Modern steel is far beyond their reach, it would seem like alien technology.
On the other hand, the Romans were really, really good at adapting technologies and equipment from not only conquered peoples, but also their enemies. Remember when they simply copied Carthage’s ships and replaced Carthage as the dominant naval power in the Mediterranean?
The comparison does not hold up though. They were great at adapting same-era technology, but they would literally have to invent industrialisation and modern steel industry for them to be able to replicate a modern day machinegun. That is not something they would be able to do just by examining the object.
Yeah that’s a fair take. No way they get anywhere close to making a modern gun.
I bet they’d make a cannon instead.
Steel is probably the matter of least concern, here. You can make a gun out of theoretically near-anything, so long as its service life is not a concern. Happening upon the formula for gunpowder and mercury fulminate by mere observation, though, would be like winning the lottery after being given a free ticket as a promo for being the millionth person to walk through the convenience store doors.