Block 2 Unit 5 The emperor in Italy

Question 1

5.1 The role of the emperor

A strong force? Charisma but with generals. A symbol?

Answer 1

Could an emperor make a difference or was the institution stronger than one man? What advantages did monarchy have for an ancient empire relative to other forms of government? Woolf says:-

1. A phenomenally powerful organising force (figurehead, focus of power), act as ‘capstones’ in complex political structures, they balance elements in the same way a capstone stops an arch from falling - conversely some say they have little capacity to change things because he has to duck/dive in the political arena and with social and administrative structures? BUT this can be a strength for the empire as a whole as it may stop despotism, but not always Nero, Caligula, Domitian - but they don’t last long do they?
2. A monarch is the chief animator of society, charismatic, BUT he has to trust generals, governors and viceroys on the ground. Decennalia - tenth anniversary of an emperor’s accession to the throne
3. Romans of all ranks (came to believe) believed in the power of the individual much more than they did in the power of institutions. The emperor symbolises the ‘power’ of the empire
4. The emperor’s personal revenue from imperial colonies was called the ‘fiscus’

Question 2

5.2 Qualities of the emperor how to show

Coins. Imperial buildings, largesse.

Answer 2

How is the personality and qualities of the emperor disseminated?

Coins - A perfect medium for communicating messages. illustrations of an emperors power one side - his image, the other side a narrative of/on his power e.g. Hadrian’s coin head on one side, on the reverse Rome personified as a female deity of Rome, helmet. seated on a shield, spear, - all indicating military power on the other arm a small statue of Athena (a mirror of Athena from the ruins of Troy rescued by the legendary Aeneas) - personifies the military role of the emperor

Question 3

5.3 Ruling Italy: projecting imperial power in Italy

Organising, portraits, coins inscriptions, force, supernatural (god like) powers, political clout

Answer 3

How was power communicated and exercised?

His importance as an organising force, his commitment to the relief of communities vis his wealth, building programmes/monuments - Woolf

His charisma and the authority of his ancestors - he visited cities and showed himself e.g. Adrian’s many travels

Imperial portraits in public places, coins, inscriptions on buildings

Religion - sanctioned by a supernatural force

Physical force - the army, praetorians

Political force via administrations, (in Italy’s 11 administrative regions - ‘regiones’ - (by Augustus) leading citizens regulate cities on behalf of the emperor and money City’s managed by local elite ‘decurions’ - governors

Question 4

5.3.1 Imperial Roads - a symbol of imperial power and control

Answer 4

Roads might be seen as defining the territory and boundaries of the empire embodying ‘Rome’s power over the landscape’

All places were connected to each other and ultimately Rome - they therefore symbolise the imperial power of emperors by their developing and maintaining the road work they maintained and exercised their power to rule ‘ITER’ ‘ITINERARIES’ - ‘Tabula PEUTINGERIANA’ - a map of the Roman empire

Question 5

5.3.2 Taking to the imperial highway; the via Flaminia

roads, bridges and way stations

Answer 5

The Vicarello Cupa - 4 cups, Silver cup 4 provides a detailed route and distances from Cadiz to Rome

The Via Flaminia was originally constructed in 220 BCE by Gaius Flaminius (for glory and euergetism) - shortest and quickest journey time like a Roman motorway and bypasses (avoided large settlements along the way)

The Via Lata, the urban stretch of the Via Flaminia

The Milvian Bridge crossing of the Tiber (Constantine)

Staging posts on routes - mutationes for changing horses and residences - singular ‘mansio’ (Mansions) for overnight stops

Stati - stopping place e.g. a vicusin which there were often dedicatory tablets set up by citizens to the emperor for repair work on the roads he paid for, connecting local councilmen and the emperor

Question 6

5.3.3 Setting out rom Rome

roads and euergetism

Answer 6

The golden milestone set up by Augusts in the Roman Forum to mark the point from which all distances to laces in the empire should be measured

Hadrian’s road building and maintenance of them illustrates the relationship between power, benefaction, gratitude and loyalty operating between the emperor and certain villagers in Umbria

Euergetism - a modern term used for the process of civic benefaction in return for social and political status and social mobility e.g. citizen to civitas etc. Local elites, both mean and women, participated in this form of political/community benefaction.

Question 7

5.4 Being ruled: honouring the emperor

forums and flunkies

Answer 7

Forum - the term is thought to have been used for new settlements built in conquered areas where there were no pre-existing communities performing administrative and commercial functions; so, making a town was effectively making a forum

Quaestor - An official in charge public revenue and expenditure or ‘quaestori alimentorum’ - finance officer of the alimenta - imperial benefaction given to poor children

Decurions - local mayors/elite, former magistrates who ran Roman local government by serving as members of the local council, overseeing administration, finance and law

Proconsul - former consul whose powers as a magistrate were extended in order to allow him to serve for a further year as the governor of a province