Nice explanation, but the Romans did use spears - the 7-foot heavy pilum. They just threw them. It was effectively used to disrupt a threat in a mass volley be

Nice explanation, but the Romans did use spears - the 7-foot heavy pilum. They just threw them. It was effectively used to disrupt a threat in a mass volley before swords were drawn and the zerg rugh. Several battles were won by the pilum - the battle of Telamon for example.