- The Romans also developed a very useful building technique: the arch.
- The Romans also built public toilets, so people stopped urinating in the street. Now streets were cleaner and diseases spread less easily.
- The Romans loved bathing. In Rome, there were several thermae (Latin for ‘bathhouses’). A bathhouse was used for bathing, but also for socialising and of course, gossiping.
Pax Romana
Source 4.26 Medical instruments the Romans used for surgery, not so different from those we use today (1st century BC).
There were other good reasons to be part of the Roman Empire: the network of roads was protected by the Roman army and offered a fast, safe way to travel. The Roman state also made good silver coins, called denarii. These coins could be used all over the empire and helped trade to blossom. Whether it was a trader selling perfume, or an Egyptian grain trader, everyone knew what the coins were worth. This made trade easier.
With better trade, some people became rich. It was a Roman tradition to use your wealth for public good, so rich Romans would spread their wealth by, for instance, building a bathhouse. Most Roman cities improved this way. They built public toilets (so people stopped peeing in the street), bathhouses (so people were clean) along with libraries and sporting facilities. In other words the Romans brought wealth and, as long as you obeyed Roman law, peace. So it was Roman peace, or Pax Romana.
Source 4.27 Romans enjoyed going to the toilet together and even shared one cleaning stick (instead of paper) (Ostia Antica, Rome, 2nd century AD).
Conflict with the Germanic tribes
There was one downside to Rome’s wealth and success. In the North there were Germanic tribes. These tribes envied Rome the fertile lands of Gaul and the wealth Rome had gathered. They also remembered the wars they had fought with Rome. The Teutons and Cimbri that Marius had defeated were also Germanic. After more than 200 years the conflict was far from over. But after a few failed attempts to conquer Germany, the Rhine became the frontier with the Germanic tribes.
Essence
Becoming more Roman, or Romanising, had many advantages; political rights for citizens, better trade and nice buildings. But if you resisted Roman rule, they would punish you.
Exercise 1
Read How to become a Roman? (Theory B).
a.
What four benefits were there if you became a Roman citizen?
b.
Was it easy to become a Roman citizen? Explain your answer.
a
b
Exercise 2
S
In this exercise you will practise Skill 7: Drawing conclusions from studying sources. Read the source below and answer the questions.
The emperor Caesar […] Hadrianus Antonius […], pontifex maximus (high priest), with tribunician power (people’s tribune), twice imperator, four times consul […] September 27th […] has granted to the Briton Ivonercus, son of Molax, infantryman of the 1st Ulpian cohort of Britons 1,000-strong under Lucius Nonius Bessus[…] citizenship. […]
Military diploma from Mehadia, AD 154, simplified version
a.
What does the diploma say about Ivonercus?
b.
Why are all the names and titles important?
c.
When would Ivonercus need this diploma?
a
b
c
Exercise 3
S
Read Romanisation (Theory C). In this exercise you will practise Skill 7: Drawing conclusions from studying sources.
a.
What is Romanisation?
b.
Look at the source below. Is this an example of Romanisation?
Roman Baths in Bath, England
a
b
Exercise 4
a.
What two things did people in the Roman empire always have to do?
b.
Which of these two things did the Jews and Christians refuse to do? Explain why.
a
b
Exercise 5
Read Batavians in the personal guard of the emperor (Theory D).
a.
What language did the Batavians speak?
b.
Is the fact that there were letters in Latin from Batavians proof of their Romanisation? Explain your answer.
c.
The Romans made sure that troops were rotated. This meant that Batavians from the Netherlands were keeping the peace in England instead of the Netherlands. Why did the Romans prefer to use Batavians in England rather than in the Netherlands? Explain your answer.
a
b
c
Exercise 6
Read Bread and Games (Theory E).
a.
What did Caesar mean by “Give them bread and games”?
b.
Entertainment in the amphitheatres included gladiators fighting to the death, animal fights and executions. Would you consider this sport?
S
c.
In this exercise you will practise Skill 4: Comparing historical situations. Gladiators could become rich and famous. Is that so very different from professional athletes today? Explain your answer.
a
b
c
Exercise 7
S
Read Roman culture in the Netherlands (Theory F). In this exercise you will practise Skill 7: Drawing conclusions from studying sources.
a.
Look at source 4.25. Is this temple an example of Romanisation? Explain your answer.
b.
The Batavian god Magusanus was called Hercules (or even Hercules-Magusanus) by the Romans. Why do you think they gave him this name?
c.
What does it say about the relationship between Rome and the Batavians that the Romans rebuilt the temple in 110 AD?
a
b
c
Exercise 8
Read Pax Romana (Theory G).
a.
What three benefits did the Roman empire offer for