Roman pizzas?

I read somewhere some  years ago - not sure where, though - that the Roman armies marched on pizza. I accepted as near gospel that it made sense; a food that was easy to prepare and loaded with necessary pre-battle carbs.

Now, the Romans - along with just about everyone from the Fertile Crescent westwards - had been familiar with flat breads for thousands of years. But pizza as we know it? Not likely!

Tomato, a basic topping ingredient, wasn't introduced to Europe (from the New World; it's a native of South America) until the 1600s.

However, it's a fair bet the Romans - who were dab hands at all kinds of complex baking, including pastries and cakes - figured out that various seasonal veggie and fruit toppings and meats could be added to flat breads. They may well have baked these to 'weld' toppings to the bread.

If so, something fairly akin to modern-day pizza may have been part of the Roman diet from before the birth of Christ.

If you know anything more, I'd be delighted to hear from you.