Seems to be a dearth of new threads in the history forum, so I am starting one on the 'superpower' of the ancient world - the Romans! Surprising that no one has started one yet since there seems to be lots of history buffs around.

The thing I admire most about the Romans is their acumen for practicality. It shows in their administration, military and engineering. Also the inclusiveness of their society. The Romans subjugated enemies and then offered them protection and citizenship in return for military manpower. Henceforth they had no problems in filling up the legions.

I also admire the durability of Roman power in spite of all the civil wars, political intrigues and upheavals that the Roman leaders undertook amongst themselves. In fact, after each power struggle (Julius Caesar vs Pompey, Mark Anthony vs Octavius etc), the empire has a whole seems even stronger. Amazing.

Any thoughts?

Indeed. I once read, that it should not be considered a tragedy that the Roman Empire declined and eventually fell; coversely, it should be considered astounding that it lasted as the dominant power in the world as long as it did!

This is a great topic, but one about which I admittedly am not expert. My brother-in-law is a classics professor, and my wife studied Roman history as an undergrad. I've absorbed much, but it's all borrowed knowledge...

I'd prefer if somebody really in the know would start a topic of discussion!

Of course We all know that Rome in the BC's was the first city to get a population of 1 million, or 13 citizens in civ2 talk. It took until after 1000 AD for another city to get that big or for Rome to reachieve greatness. I think they should make some sort of ancient Roman working city. Like colonial Williamsburg (for you non-USians it talks place about 300-400 years ago) but in Roman times.

I always thought Alexandria (Egypt) was the first city of a million inhabitants. But then again, who kept good records in those days? :king: :egypt:

I dont know about Alexandria, but I have three questions for any Roman Empire experts out there.

What does Pax Romana mean?

What year was Ceasar assassinated?

Who was Gaius Octavius aka Augustus?

My thread - turning into a quiz......

Oh well, my answers : -

1) Roman peace. I.e. enforcement of peace thru overwhelming military might.

2) 44 BC?

3) Nephew of Julius Caesar. Rival with Mark Anthony after Julius' assassination, eventually first Emperor of the Roman Empire. Hail Caesar!

Well, that didnt take long...

Your some kind of history whiz SKM.
( I wont tell people that you butchered the Russian questions though ;) ) :lol:

I like to read history books esp those on ancient history. So happens that I also 'happen' to remember bits and pieces of what I read. Anyway you are asking really general questions.

My quesion now : -

What's the political arrangement for the administration of Egypt under the Roman Empire? I.e. how was it ruled?

By a prefect, I believe.

If I remember this correctly, Roman Emporers were worshiped as Gods, like the Pharoahs before them. It was a very important part of the empire. Egypt was a fertile land then. The Romans got alot of food from there.

Originally posted by joespaniel
What does Pax Romana mean?

The Pax Romana lasted from 27BC to 180AD and its single greatest accomplishment was the Romanization of the empire. After this period started the decline.

Sid and gang probably got the idea of a golden age in civ3 from the Pax Romana.

Originally posted by joespaniel
By a prefect, I believe.

If I remember this correctly, Roman Emporers were worshiped as Gods, like the Pharoahs before them. It was a very important part of the empire. Egypt was a fertile land then. The Romans got alot of food from there. Not exactly what I am looking for but maybe it's my phrasing of the question. Anyway, the exact answer was that Egypt was ruled directly as an imperial fief, bypassing the Senate and all else. In short, it was the personal estate of the emperor. The prefect for Egypt was a personal appointee by the emperor.
Not only the Romans got a lot of food there; you can say it's the granary of Rome. With the advert of empire, farming in the Italian penisular was neglected (except for economic plantation type farming). Now the emperors must feed Rome otherwise he'll be overthrown and there'd be riots and uprisings. So Egypt and North Africa became very important for Rome cos its food was grown here.
Anyone want to ask the next question?

Do you think that the Roman Empire crumbled because of Christianism having become the official religion under Constantine ? It DID change the face of the "Romanity" and it is probably not a coincidence that the army became weaker under this new pacifist faith (well, at this time, as it evolved a lot in the middle ages), leading finally to the Germanic and Hun tribes to invade the Empire.

I don't know - that's hard to say. But judging fr later day Christians (Franks, Anglo-Saxons etc), I don't really think that Christianity really zapped the life-force of the Empire that much. I think it has more to do with the following : -

The plagues - these killed off a great no of citizens, weakening the empire as a whole. It remained a prevalent problem till the Byzantine era. You know - less ppl, less taxes, less military manpower etc. Probably the biggest factor of all.

Barbarian tribes settling within imperial boundaries. This was a cause of the decline, not a consequence of it. Led to less cohesion within the empire. And dangerous as fifth columnists.

Weakening military. Now tribespeople instead of serving as auxilliary forces to the legions, most times they served as direct allies. Not even sure if the legions were maintained anymore. There's probably a decline in the std of the training, equipment and organisation of the legions.

Also changing military technology. Esp with the coming of age of cavalry forces. The Huns brought the Chinese invention, the stirrups, with them fr the East. It practically revolutionized cavalry forces in the West. The Romans also began maintaining heavy cavalry; copied fr the Persian capharacts. The Germanic tribes copied this design and eventually it became the kinghts in their shining armor we are so fond of in medieval history.

I am sure Christianity contributed a weakening factor too but there are also other considerations like those above.

Before they consign this thread to history (no pun intended :D), here's the next question : -

Towards the end of the empire, the Western Empire shifted the western capital fr Rome to which city?

Ravenna.

Correct. Hmmm maybe my questions are getting much too easy ...... Next question's yours, Magnus, if you want it. ;)

OK - what was the capital of the British province (abandoned in 410) and by what name is it known by today?

Originally posted by SKM
3) Nephew of Julius Caesar.

more precisely, great-nephew.

Originally posted by Magnus
OK - what was the capital of the British province (abandoned in 410) and by what name is it known by today? First capital was at Camulodunum (Colchester today). Later, moved to Londinium (London today). Took some websurfing ....

OK, SKM, proceed, for some reason I thought it was:

Eborus - Eboracum - Eoforwic - Jorvik - York

but it turns out that was only the strongest military fortification, not the capital. Oh well, I guess I learned something from my own question! :crazyeyes

I think quizzes are the fastest way to learn something. Cos it got a competitive edge to it. Anyway, my question : -

How long does a legionnaire need to serve in the legions before he can retire? During the peak period of the empire when the legions were regular formations, rather than mobilizations of citizen-soldiers as in earlier times, pls.

I'll randomly guess: seven years. :)

Well, your randomly guessed answer is ...... wrong. :lol:

And doesn't that just make you so happy. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think it was 16 years originally, but went as long as 25 years later on.

...and not alowed to marry until their term was up.

I didn't think that was really enforced though?

You got it right, Crazy Eddie. Next question's on you so you so choose.

The legionnaires got a really handsome pension when they retired (12 yrs of pay!) I think and their regular pay was really quite good. But guess not that many survived to retire, considering the long long years of active service and the wars and skirmishes the Romans were constantly engaged in, both external and internal. :crazyeyes

OK, my question is: Which Emperor attempted to reform the Roman alphabet?

The question can't be that hard?
I can't imagine that I can think of a trivial fact no-one else knows... :confused:

Reform of the alphabet? I think that was sad, mad, bad Claudius.

And by the way, re:

Originally posted by slothman
Of course We all know that Rome in the BC's was the first city to get a population of 1 million, or 13 citizens in civ2 talk. It took until after 1000 AD for another city to get that big or for Rome to reachieve greatness. ...

I think both Xian'an of Tang Empire in China and Baghdad of the Abbasid Caliphate both achieved a population over 1,000,000 well before 1000 ad.

... And Christianity shouldn't be singled out as a contributing factor to the fall of Rome; spiritual disaffection also took the form of Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, the cult of Isis also attracted substantial adherents during the decline of Rome.

(Personally, I think the fall of the Roman Empire can be traced to their invention of the vomitorium; after that, they started declining and falling all over the Mediterranean world!http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/cwm8.gif)

Claudius it was, of course. :goodjob:
Hey, don't knock Claudius, compared to the Emperors before and after him, he was the model of sanity. Historians & linguists would also dearly love to recover a copy of his book on the Etruscan language too.