What If? The Roman Empire was given the knowledge and technology of muskets & cannons by ROB?

[CarlManvers2019]

Presume, this is say, after the Death of Christ

This new invention sort of catches wildfire for the Roman Legions as its relatively easy to use....accuracy not withstanding and the cannonfire and gunfire’s sounds have an effect on charging cavalry

 

[Aldarion]

They win their wars against Parthia, but honestly I don't see much changing. Reason why Empire stopped expanding were administrative difficulties, not military inability to conquer new territories. Likewise, the reason why the Empire fell were sociopolitical, not military - Roman Army very much survived the fall of the Western Empire. That being said, gunpowder could enable Romans to better withstand Huns, thus avoiding the devastation of Balkans as happened historically, which would then likely prevent formation of Bulgar Empire.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

They win their wars against Parthia, but honestly I don't see much changing. Reason why Empire stopped expanding were administrative difficulties, not military inability to conquer new territories. Likewise, the reason why the Empire fell were sociopolitical, not military - Roman Army very much survived the fall of the Western Empire. That being said, gunpowder could enable Romans to better withstand Huns, thus avoiding the devastation of Balkans as happened historically, which would then likely prevent formation of Bulgar Empire.

Then the technology spreads

Cavalry’s days start becoming numbered

 

[Husky_Khan]

Cavalry continued existing for more then a half a millennia on the battlefield after the advent of Gunpowder so that won't be an issue.

Obviously warfare will evolve, the main thing is that if Rome gets it first, they're in a good place to capitalize on it. They already have a solid infantry system and logistics and infrastructure. Parthia would be at a larger disadvantage since early rockets, artillery and firearms would favor infantry based armies with solid infrastructure and logistics behind it.

You could also drill your troops into being more effective as well instead of more ad hoc like barbarians would be if they got gunpowder weapins as well.

Parthia is developed enough that I do think Rome could swallow them and make it worth the effort. Like stated earlier it just wasn't cost effective for Rome to conquer Germany or Eastern Europe or whatever because it wouldn't pay for itself. Persia however could offset the cost of expanding Rome's borders.

And Romans would be more deadly in general facimg its enemies. Drilled use of handgunners would tremendously add to the effect of whatever new tactics Rome would adopt. Breaking up enemy formations before combat and during the extensive skirmishing would favor Rome even more (even if their scutums are less needed now). Though a sputum would make a nice basis for a pavise for missile troops. Them Italians love them big shields.

 

[Shipmaster Sane]

Presume, this is say, after the Death of Christ

This new invention sort of catches wildfire for the Roman Legions as its relatively easy to use....accuracy not withstanding and the cannonfire and gunfire’s sounds have an effect on charging cavalry

Early guns were difficult to use though.

 

[Husky_Khan]

I avoided mentioning muskets in my previous post since the idea of saying flintlock muskets would be a bit too transformative. But you did say easier to use Carl and while that's a matter of opinion I was envisioning something from the early Pike And Shot era when it came to firearms technology perhaps. Firearms were definitely easier to use then compared with earlier cruder periods without being as easy as later model muskets which would transform the battlefield even more completely... Such as almost completely removing the need for any armor.

Plus Roman style regalia and trappings with a 15th century battlefield sounds awesomely cool visually.