2.9 Romanisation - TEACH -

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

The Time of Greeks and Romans

2.9 Romanisation

When the people in the Netherlands
adopted Roman culture and became more like the Romans, we call this "Romanisation".
Today, we adopt a lot of things from the USA. You can call that "Americanisation". Try to write down examples of this

Drag the names (A - F) and the pictures (G - L) to the correct building

amphitheatre

hippodrome

fortress

triumphal arch

theatre

aquaduct

G

H

I

J

K

L

How to become a Roman?

Many people wanted to be Roman citizens. 

This gave you many rights: 

• better protection by law, 
• you were allowed to own land in Italy, 
• you could vote in the assemblies 
• you could hold a political office.

There were are 2 ways to join Roman citizenry. 

1. You become a member of a Roman family, either by means of adoption or marriage.
2. You serve in the army for twenty-five years. 

source 2.9.2

A Roman legionair (present-day drawing).

source 2.9.3

A diploma of a Batavian soldier, proving he served time in the army. The diploma, dated 98 AD, was found at Elst.

Batavians in the personal guard of the emperor

Some of the best jobs in the empire were held by people who had yet to earn Roman citizenship : Batavians 

Some good jobs included being the personal guard of the emperor. 

The Romans rotated troops from different parts of the empire to keep the peace. So army service not only got you citizenship, it also got you places!

source 2.9.6

Modern map of the Netherlands in Roman times. The Batavians lived in today's Betuwe region.

source 2.9.7

Modern reconstructions of Batavian cavalry soldiers (in the Roman army)

source 2.9.8

Modern map of Britain and Scotland with Hadrian's Wall (a wall built by order of emperor Hadrian)

source 2.9.9

Modern reconstructions of one of the many Roman milecastles along Hadrian's Wall

Local people were not allowed to be the garrison in their own territory after 69 AD. The Romans feared locals were too likely to side with their people against Rome.

Some Batavians were stationed at Hadrian’s Wall in England. They were there to protect the empire from the Scottish Celts. So army service not only got you citizenship, it also got you places!

source 2.9.10

Modern reconstructions of a Batavian cavalry soldier's armour and equipment.

source 2.9.11

military mask of a Batavian soldier, 1st century AD. Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen.

69 AD

Batavian

Revolt

Emperor

Vespasian

Bread and Games

Romans brought was entertainment > people remain happy if you feed and entertain them. Or, to quote Julius Caesar: “give them bread and games”. 

The Romans liked to organise gladiator games in amphitheaters > the Colosseum in Rome. 

Gladiators fought: each other, wild animals or criminals 

Sometimes they just executed people between events. 

In the late 1st and 2nd centuries, Christians were also thrown into the arena to die as entertainment for the spectators.

source 2.9.12

Roman amphitheater in Nimes (France) from the 1st century AD.

source 2.9.13

Roman wall painting of a gladiato fighting a wild animal. 1st century AD

Give an example of Romanisation
What would a Batavian do to become like a Roman

Why did the romans have bread and games?

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