Two thousand years ago, when Rome started to conquer(征服)the world, the army needed much more than soldiers and weapons. It needed food. The Romans did not have our modern means of transportation. They did not have our modern fridges. Providing enough fresh food to the army was a serious business. Soldiers that were not fed would run away.
How did the Romans keep their soldiers from running away? How did they provide enough food to their army without modern means of transportation of fridges? The Romans travelled with the cattle(牛群), or "food on the hoof". The cattle provided fresh meat, milk, butter, and cheese. Large European herding dogs, called mastiffs, were used to help drive the cattle.
The Romans conquered the town of Rottweil in A.D.74. Rottweil is located in present day Germany. Some of the Romans remained(留下)in Rottweil with their mastiffs after the army left. Local farmers started to raise their own herding dogs with the mastiffs. They developed a smaller, quicker dog than the mastiff. They developed a dog that was equally good at guarding and herding. Today, this kind of dog is known as the Rottweiler.
Over the centuries, Rottweil became a market town. Farmer used Rottweilers when they drove their cattle to town to sell. On the way into town, the dogs helped herd and control the cattle. On the return trip home, the dogs helped guard(守护)money. Some dogs carried the money, as well as other supplies(用品), in special packs.
Over time, Rottweilers became known as the butcher dogs of Rottweil. This was because many butchers(屠户)in Rottweil began to raise the dogs. The butchers used the dogs to help drive the cattle they had bought in the countryside back to their stores. They used the dogs to guard their stores and money. They even used the dogs to pull carts with meat that was for sale.
【小题1】What was a serious business for the Romans 2000 years ago?