4.3 Romanisation

• History
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

The Time of Greeks and Romans

4.3 Romanisation

Influencers

Self check.

In this lesson you learned the answer to these questions:

• How could people become a Roman citizen?
• What is Romanisation?
• 
  
• What does the term "bread and games" mean?
• Why was the Pax Romana good for trade?

Word Duty

• Romanisation: to become more like the Romans
• Cult: a small sub-religion or a different form of a religion
• monotheism: belief in only one god (mono = one)
• Gladiators: slaves whowere trained to fight to the death in the arena for entertainment.

KEY WORDS

Important dates in this lesson:

69 AD: the Batavian Revolt

You may have noticed that today, Dutch people are becoming more like the Americans. The Dutch watch more American shows than Dutch shows on TV, drink Coca Cola and play American videogames. This is happening because we feel an appeal to America, a land of great wealth and power. Not much changed in 2,000 years; people felt the same way back then, but in those days it was the Romans they imitated.

How to become a Roman

Many people in the empire did not just imitate the Romans, they wanted to be Roman citizens. This gave you many rights: as a Roman you had better protection by law, you were allowed to own land in Italy, you could vote in the assemblies and could hold a political office.

There were a few ways to join Roman citizenry. You could be adopted into a Roman family, marry a Roman citizen or the daughter of a Roman citizen. In that last case citizenship would start with your children. Many young men tried to become Roman by serving in the army for twenty-five years. Afterwards you received a diploma: two small certificates that were held together. You would then have all the rights of a Roman.

Remember that legionaries were called "Marius Mules"? Pakezels dus. This modern illustration shows how many things legionaries had to carry with them.

original bronze military diploma, given to a soldier in 80 AD.  If you look closely, you can recognise many letters, because our alphabet is very similar to the Latin alphabet. The Romans wrote a V for both a V and a U, and they used an I for a J, but also for the number 1.

1. What four benefits were there if you became a Roman citizen?

2. Was it easy to become a Roman citizen?
Explain your answer.

Romanisation

During the Roman conquests their culture spread throughout the empire. Wherever they went, roads, temples, bathhouses and aqueducts were built, even in the Netherlands. Often local and Roman culture mixed. Slowly the locals would become more like the Romans. That is called Romanisation. Locals started to use Roman buildings, wear Roman clothes, or combine their gods.

Sometimes foreign gods became very popular in Rome too. The Romans added many cults to their religion. A cult is a small sub religion or a different form of a religion. Cults were allowed as long as the worshippers did two things: pay taxes and worship the emperor. The Jews and Christians refused to worship the emperor, because they only believed in one god, so they had a monotheistic religion. When Christians preached against worshipping the emperor, they were arrested. If they refused to change their minds, they could end up in the arena.

Batavians in the personal guard of the emperor

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!

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 of the best jobs in the empire were held by people who had yet to earn Roman citizenship. For instance, the personal guard of the emperor included Batavians. These men from what is now called the Netherlands could find themselves in high places. Sometimes literally, as some Batavians were stationed at Hadrian’s wall (England). They were there to man the wall and protect the empire from the Scottish Celts.

We found some personal letters there that these Batavians sent home. These letters were written in Latin, not in the Germanic dialect that the Batavians used to speak. So either the Batavians became very Romanised in only one century, or there were people in the Roman army that would write down messages for soldiers. They would then be read or translated for the Batavians back home. 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!

Bread and Games

Source 4.23

Another thing the Romans brought was entertainment. Roman leaders knew that 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 amphitheatres.

Amphitheatres are round theatres, like the Colosseum in Rome. Gladiators, who were trained slaves, would fight each other, wild animals or criminals. In other events criminals had to fight wild animals. 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 4.24 Inside the most famous amphitheatre in the world: the Colosseum in Rome, built between 72 and 80 AD.

Roman culture in the Netherlands

Source 4.25 Scale model of the temple for Hercules-Magusanus in Elst, built in 110 AD.

In the Netherlands, local and Roman religion mixed too. The largest temple North of the Alps was built just South of Arnhem, at Elst. It was dedicated to the Batavian god Magusanus. The Romans called him Hercules. The Roman army built the temple around 110 AD, before the legion left Nijmegen. It seems only fair that they built a new temple, because the Romans had destroyed the old one.

To be fair, the Romans had good reasons to destroy it. The Batavians rebelled against the Romans in 69 AD. During this Batavian rebellion, they defeated Roman armies and burned down Xanten. But after some time Rome got the upper hand. The Batavian leader, Julius Civilis, met with the Romans and surrendered. As punishment the Romans destroyed the temple at Elst. They also placed a legion just South of the Batavians, and from this the city of Nijmegen grew!

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 trade?

b.

Why is it important that there was a coin made by the Roman state?

c.

Rich Romans used some of their wealth to do public good. How were the buildings they paid for, used for the public good?

a

b

c

Exercise 9

Read Conflict with the Germanic tribes (Theory H). In this exercise you will practise Skill 11: Linking sources to a characteristic aspect.

a.

When did the conflict between Rome and the Germanic tribes start and why? (If you need to review this topic, you can find it in Gaius Marius (Theory C).)

b.

In the first century AD, what did the Germanic tribes want?

c.

During Augustus’s reign the Romans tried to conquer Germany, but failed. Where did that leave the relationship between Rome and the Germanic tribes?

a

b

c

Exercise 10

Explain how we can say that Rome grew more because of Romanisation than it did by its conquests.

Exercise 11

S

  

In this exercise you will practise Skill 4: Comparing historical situations. Discuss with a partner: do you think our approach to America is very different from how Romans were seen by non-Romans 2,000 years ago? Explain your answer.

Modern reconstruction of the city that the Romans built and that would become Nijmegen.

 Influencers 

3a. What is Romanisation?

3b. The source shows a picture of the
remains of a Roman bathhouse in England
Is this an example of Romanisation?
Explain your answer.

3c. Take a close look at the fragment from an Asterix album.
Explain why this is about Romanisation

3d. Look at the difference between a Roman aqueduct
and a modern aqueduct.
Which technological invention did the Romans NOT have,
so they needed to build that water bridge to span two hills?

4a. What two things did people in the Roman empire always have to do?

4b. Which of these two things did the Jews and Christians refuse to do? Explain why.

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. For instance, the personal guard of the emperor included Batavians. These men from what is now called the Netherlands could find themselves in high places. Sometimes literally, as some Batavians were stationed at Hadrian’s wall (England). They were there to man the wall and protect the empire from the Scottish Celts.

We found some personal letters there that these Batavians sent home. These letters were written in Latin, not in the Germanic dialect that the Batavians used to speak. So either the Batavians became very Romanised in only one century, or there were people in the Roman army that would write down messages for soldiers. They would then be read or translated for the Batavians back home. 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!

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!

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 of the best jobs in the empire were held by people who had yet to earn Roman citizenship. For instance, the personal guard of the emperor included Batavians. These men from what is now called the Netherlands could find themselves in high places. Sometimes literally, as some Batavians were stationed at Hadrian’s wall (England). They were there to man the wall and protect the empire from the Scottish Celts.

We found some personal letters there that these Batavians sent home. These letters were written in Latin, not in the Germanic dialect that the Batavians used to speak. So either the Batavians became very Romanised in only one century, or there were people in the Roman army that would write down messages for soldiers. They would then be read or translated for the Batavians back home. 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!

Bread and Games

Source 4.23

Another thing the Romans brought was entertainment. Roman leaders knew that 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 amphitheatres.

Amphitheatres are round theatres, like the Colosseum in Rome. Gladiators, who were trained slaves, would fight each other, wild animals or criminals. In other events criminals had to fight wild animals. 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 4.24 Inside the most famous amphitheatre in the world: the Colosseum in Rome, built between 72 and 80 AD.

Roman culture in the Netherlands

Source 4.25 Scale model of the temple for Hercules-Magusanus in Elst, built in 110 AD.

In the Netherlands, local and Roman religion mixed too. The largest temple North of the Alps was built just South of Arnhem, at Elst. It was dedicated to the Batavian god Magusanus. The Romans called him Hercules. The Roman army built the temple around 110 AD, before the legion left Nijmegen. It seems only fair that they built a new temple, because the Romans had destroyed the old one.

To be fair, the Romans had good reasons to destroy it. The Batavians rebelled against the Romans in 69 AD. During this Batavian rebellion, they defeated Roman armies and burned down Xanten. But after some time Rome got the upper hand. The Batavian leader, Julius Civilis, met with the Romans and surrendered. As punishment the Romans destroyed the temple at Elst. They also placed a legion just South of the Batavians, and from this the city of Nijmegen grew!

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 trade?

b.

Why is it important that there was a coin made by the Roman state?

c.

Rich Romans used some of their wealth to do public good. How were the buildings they paid for, used for the public good?

a

b

c

Exercise 9

Read Conflict with the Germanic tribes (Theory H). In this exercise you will practise Skill 11: Linking sources to a characteristic aspect.

a.

When did the conflict between Rome and the Germanic tribes start and why? (If you need to review this topic, you can find it in Gaius Marius (Theory C).)

b.

In the first century AD, what did the Germanic tribes want?

c.

During Augustus’s reign the Romans tried to conquer Germany, but failed. Where did that leave the relationship between Rome and the Germanic tribes?

a

b

c

Exercise 10

Explain how we can say that Rome grew more because of Romanisation than it did by its conquests.

Exercise 11

S

  

In this exercise you will practise Skill 4: Comparing historical situations. Discuss with a partner: do you think our approach to America is very different from how Romans were seen by non-Romans 2,000 years ago? Explain your answer.

5a. What language did the Batavians speak?

5b. Is the fact that there were letters in Latin from Batavians proof of their Romanisation? Explain your answer.

5c 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.

Bread and Games

Another thing the Romans brought was entertainment. Roman leaders knew that 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 amphitheatres.

Amphitheatres are round theatres, like the Colosseum in Rome. Gladiators, who were trained slaves, would fight each other, wild animals or criminals. In other events criminals had to fight wild animals. 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.

Part of a mosaic from Libya (Leptis Magna), about 2nd century AD. It shows (left to right) a thraex fighting a murmillo, a hoplomachus standing with another murmillo (who is signaling his defeat to the referee), and one of a matched pair.

Jean-Léon Gérôme, 'Pollice Verso', 1872. Een murmillo heeft een retiarius verslagen in het Colosseum.

6a. What did Caesar mean by “Give them bread and games”?

Self check.

In this lesson you learned the answer to these questions:

• How could people become a Roman citizen?
• What is Romanisation?
• 
  
• What does the term "bread and games" mean?
• Why was the Pax Romana good for trade?

6b. Gladiators could become rich and famous. Is that so very different from professional athletes today? Explain your answer.

Roman culture in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, local and Roman religion mixed too. The largest temple North of the Alps was built just South of Arnhem, at Elst. It was dedicated to the Batavian god Magusanus. The Romans called him Hercules. The Roman army built the temple around 110 AD, before the legion left Nijmegen. It seems only fair that they built a new temple, because the Romans had destroyed the old one.

To be fair, the Romans had good reasons to destroy it. The Batavians rebelled against the Romans in 69 AD. During this Batavian rebellion, they defeated Roman armies and burned down Xanten. But after some time Rome got the upper hand. The Batavian leader, Julius Civilis, met with the Romans and surrendered. As punishment the Romans destroyed the temple at Elst. They also placed a legion just South of the Batavians, and from this the city of Nijmegen grew!

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 of the best jobs in the empire were held by people who had yet to earn Roman citizenship. For instance, the personal guard of the emperor included Batavians. These men from what is now called the Netherlands could find themselves in high places. Sometimes literally, as some Batavians were stationed at Hadrian’s wall (England). They were there to man the wall and protect the empire from the Scottish Celts.

We found some personal letters there that these Batavians sent home. These letters were written in Latin, not in the Germanic dialect that the Batavians used to speak. So either the Batavians became very Romanised in only one century, or there were people in the Roman army that would write down messages for soldiers. They would then be read or translated for the Batavians back home. 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!

Bread and Games

Source 4.23

Another thing the Romans brought was entertainment. Roman leaders knew that 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 amphitheatres.

Amphitheatres are round theatres, like the Colosseum in Rome. Gladiators, who were trained slaves, would fight each other, wild animals or criminals. In other events criminals had to fight wild animals. 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 4.24 Inside the most famous amphitheatre in the world: the Colosseum in Rome, built between 72 and 80 AD.

Roman culture in the Netherlands

Source 4.25 Scale model of the temple for Hercules-Magusanus in Elst, built in 110 AD.

In the Netherlands, local and Roman religion mixed too. The largest temple North of the Alps was built just South of Arnhem, at Elst. It was dedicated to the Batavian god Magusanus. The Romans called him Hercules. The Roman army built the temple around 110 AD, before the legion left Nijmegen. It seems only fair that they built a new temple, because the Romans had destroyed the old one.

To be fair, the Romans had good reasons to destroy it. The Batavians rebelled against the Romans in 69 AD. During this Batavian rebellion, they defeated Roman armies and burned down Xanten. But after some time Rome got the upper hand. The Batavian leader, Julius Civilis, met with the Romans and surrendered. As punishment the Romans destroyed the temple at Elst. They also placed a legion just South of the Batavians, and from this the city of Nijmegen grew!

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 

altar stone of Hercules Magusanus, found in 1514 in Westkapelle

the conspiracy of Julius Civilis, painted by Rembrandt in 1661 / 62

Modern reconstruction of the temple in Elst.

7. Look at source 4.25. Is this temple an example of Romanisation? Explain your answer.

Pax Romana

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.

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 of the best jobs in the empire were held by people who had yet to earn Roman citizenship. For instance, the personal guard of the emperor included Batavians. These men from what is now called the Netherlands could find themselves in high places. Sometimes literally, as some Batavians were stationed at Hadrian’s wall (England). They were there to man the wall and protect the empire from the Scottish Celts.

We found some personal letters there that these Batavians sent home. These letters were written in Latin, not in the Germanic dialect that the Batavians used to speak. So either the Batavians became very Romanised in only one century, or there were people in the Roman army that would write down messages for soldiers. They would then be read or translated for the Batavians back home. 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!

Bread and Games

Source 4.23

Another thing the Romans brought was entertainment. Roman leaders knew that 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 amphitheatres.

Amphitheatres are round theatres, like the Colosseum in Rome. Gladiators, who were trained slaves, would fight each other, wild animals or criminals. In other events criminals had to fight wild animals. 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 4.24 Inside the most famous amphitheatre in the world: the Colosseum in Rome, built between 72 and 80 AD.

Roman culture in the Netherlands

Source 4.25 Scale model of the temple for Hercules-Magusanus in Elst, built in 110 AD.

In the Netherlands, local and Roman religion mixed too. The largest temple North of the Alps was built just South of Arnhem, at Elst. It was dedicated to the Batavian god Magusanus. The Romans called him Hercules. The Roman army built the temple around 110 AD, before the legion left Nijmegen. It seems only fair that they built a new temple, because the Romans had destroyed the old one.

To be fair, the Romans had good reasons to destroy it. The Batavians rebelled against the Romans in 69 AD. During this Batavian rebellion, they defeated Roman armies and burned down Xanten. But after some time Rome got the upper hand. The Batavian leader, Julius Civilis, met with the Romans and surrendered. As punishment the Romans destroyed the temple at Elst. They also placed a legion just South of the Batavians, and from this the city of Nijmegen grew!

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 trade?

b.

Why is it important that there was a coin made by the Roman state?

c.

Rich Romans used some of their wealth to do public good. How were the buildings they paid for, used for the public good?

a

b

c

Exercise 9

Read Conflict with the Germanic tribes (Theory H). In this exercise you will practise Skill 11: Linking sources to a characteristic aspect.

a.

When did the conflict between Rome and the Germanic tribes start and why? (If you need to review this topic, you can find it in Gaius Marius (Theory C).)

b.

In the first century AD, what did the Germanic tribes want?

c.

During Augustus’s reign the Romans tried to conquer Germany, but failed. Where did that leave the relationship between Rome and the Germanic tribes?

a

b

c

Exercise 10

Explain how we can say that Rome grew more because of Romanisation than it did by its conquests.

Exercise 11

S

  

In this exercise you will practise Skill 4: Comparing historical situations. Discuss with a partner: do you think our approach to America is very different from how Romans were seen by non-Romans 2,000 years ago? Explain your answer.

8. What three benefits did the Roman empire offer for trade?

9. In the first century AD, what did the Germanic tribes want?

Make a picture / scan of the summary of lesson 4.4
and upload it here.

congratulations