Final answer:
The statement is true; Roman soldiers did begin to adopt short leggings over time, influenced by the attire of auxiliary forces from various regions, enhancing their military effectiveness in different climates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Roman soldiers gradually adopted short leggings is true. Initially, Roman soldiers did not wear trousers; their military attire included garments like tunics and segmented armor for protection. However, as the empire expanded and incorporated cultures from different regions such as Celts and Germans, elements of their attire, like trousers, began to be adopted by the Roman military.
During ancient Rome, fashion and clothing also served to distinguish citizens from non-citizens. The toga, for example, was a garment exclusively worn by Roman citizens. Over time, the Roman legions grew to include not just Roman citizens but also auxiliaries from a variety of regions under Roman control, who brought with them their own styles of dress, which influenced Roman military attire.
Through the assimilation of different cultures within its legions, the Roman military attire evolved. Items like the iconic short sword (gladius) and the rectangular shield (scutum) were accompanied by leg protections such as greaves, and eventually, variations in legwear like the adoption of short leggings or trousers, which offered practical benefits in different climates and terrains.