Trajan's campaign on the Dacians Flashcards

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1
Q

When did it happen?

A

101 CE- First Dacian War
105-6 CE- Second Dacian War

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2
Q

Where did it happen?

A

Dacia (modern day Romania)

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3
Q

Side 1:

A

Rome, led by Trajan

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4
Q

Side 2:

A

Dacia, led by Decebalus

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5
Q

Who was Trajan, and how did he became well-known?

A
  • Born in Hispania
  • His father was a politician, and had held the consulship
  • Trajan made his name as a military commander and was very popular with the legions
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6
Q

Who was Domitian, and who was he unpopular with?

A
  • Domitian was an Emperor
    -He was popular with the army, but not with the Roman nobles, who assassinated him, and appointed Nerva as the new emperor
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7
Q

Who was Nerva unpopular with?

A
  • Popular with the Roman nobles but not the army
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8
Q

What did Nerva do?

A
  • He was elderly and had no sons so he adopted Trajan and appointed him as his co-emperor
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9
Q

What is Trajan remembered as?

A
  • One of Rome’s best Emperors
  • The army respected him, he led successful campaigns against Dacia and Parthia and built new public buildings and a harbour in Rome
  • He also gave support to the poor
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10
Q

What did the Dacians do in 69CE?

A
  • Attacked the Roman province Moesia in 69 CE
  • They then attacked again in 85-6 CE, killing the Roman governor Oppius Sabinus
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11
Q

What was the Roman governor killed by the Dacians?

A

Oppius Sabinus

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12
Q

When did Emperor Domitian attempt to conquer Dacia, and what happened?

A

87-88 CE
- He suffered a humiliating defeat and was forced to retreat and pay money to Dacia to secure peace
- Rome invaded the next year more successfully, and made Dacia into a client kingdom

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13
Q

What was Decebalus given and what did people believe he was doing with it?

A
  • Annual payments from Rome to strengthen his defences, hoping that a strong Dacia would lead to a strong Roman border
  • Some people believed that Decebalus was using this money to build his own strength and make alliances with Northern people so he could launch an attack on Rome
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14
Q

Who did people think Decebalus was recruiting to his cause?

A
  • Northern people
  • Runaway Roman slaves
  • Roman soldiers
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15
Q

What did Trajan say was the cause of him declaring war?

A
  • Concerns about the security of the border
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16
Q

What are the other reasons possible for Trajan declaring war on the Dacians?

A
  • He wanted a campaign to raise the morale of his legions
  • He wanted to make his mark as an emperor
  • Dacia contained many gold mines
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17
Q

What happened in the summer of 101 CE?

A
  • Trajan’s forces crossed the river Danube into Dacian territory
  • A major battle was fought at Tapae- there were serious casualties on both sides but the Romans won
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18
Q

Where did the Romans move closer to in 102 CE?

A
  • The capital city of Sarmizegethusa
  • Decebalus surrendered
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19
Q

What happened after Decebalus surrendered?

A
  • The Dacians were forced to dismantle their war machinery and demolish their forts
  • Trajan withdrew and celebrated a triumph in Rome, and left many soldiers behind in Dacian territory
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20
Q

What happened after Decebalus broke the terms of his surrender?

A
  • Trajan’s forces built a bridge across the river Danube making it easier for his army to cross
  • Dacians were defeated and Decebalus committed suicide
  • Trajan celebrated a triumph and made Dacia into a province of the Roman Empire
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21
Q

What were the consequences of the campaigns?

A
  • Dacia became a Roman Province- Dacia Traiana, which was a massive increase to the size of the Roman empire
  • Increased Trajan’s prestige and solidified his position as a good emperor- he ruled without major opposition until his death
  • He took 500,000 prisoners, bringing 10,000 to fight in gladiatorial games in Rome that were hold over 123 days in celebration
  • Trajan used gold from the campaign to improve the city of Rome
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22
Q

How did Trajan improve the city of Rome using Dacian gold?

A
  • Building public works like baths
  • Building a new road
  • Extended corn dole for Rome’s poor
  • Established a support system for Italy’s poor and orphaned children
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23
Q

What are the two best sources for Trajan’s campaign, but what should they be considered as?

A
  • Trajan’s column
  • Arch of Trajan
    Should be considered as propoganda
24
Q

What did the forum of Trajan contain?

A

Public buildings
Shopping centre
Two new libraries
Trajan’s column

25
Q

What was at the base of Trajan’s column?

A
  • A 5m high marble pedestal, which served as a tomb for his ashes
26
Q

What scenes does the column not show?

A
  • Hardly any scenes show combat
  • No scenes of violence towards Dacian women and children
27
Q

What are the most common scenes on the column?

A
  • Romans building
  • Negotiations
  • Romans performing sacrifices led by Trajan
  • Trajan delivering speeches
28
Q

What are the different types of Roman that appear on the column?

A
  • Citizen soldier
  • Moorish cavalrymen
  • Armored officer
  • Auxiliary infantrymen
29
Q

What are the different types of Dacian that appear on the column?

A
  • Dacian noble
  • Dacian warrior
  • Northern Dacian
  • Sarmatian cavalrymen
30
Q

How are the Roman army often presented on the column?

A

Orderly
Focused
Cooperative
Disciplined
Well-equipped
Strong
Calm

31
Q

How are the structures built by the Roman army on the column depicted? What does this show?

A
  • Well supported and symmetrical bridge- shows good planning and skill in building
  • Soldiers building a fortress are working together
32
Q

How is Trajan shown to be a good leader in ‘Trajan and his advisors in a war council’?

A
  • Everyones looking at Trajan, making him the focal point
  • Shows that they respect him, meaning he’s probably a good leader
  • He’s taking an active part in discussing strategy, showing he has experience in the field
33
Q

How is Trajan shown to be a good leader in ‘Trajan addressing his troops’?

A
  • Standing in Ad Locutio position
  • Commanding, used for a general speaking to his soldiers, shows he’s listened to and followed
34
Q

How is Trajan shown to be a good leader in ‘Trajan performs a sacrifice’?

A
  • Fulfilling his religious duties, show’s he’s pious and wants the Gods to like him
35
Q

What type of sacrifice is Trajan doing on the column?

A

Suovetaurilia
- A sacrifice of a cow, sheep and pig
- Done to purify the Roman army

36
Q

What does the scene depicting a wounded Roman show?

A
  • Other soldiers are holding onto him, showing their loyalty to one another
  • 2 men helping him, shows teamwork
  • Demonstrates comradeship within the army, meaning they must fight well together
37
Q

How are the Dacian prisoners depicted on the column, and what does this show?

A
  • Dacian prisoners inside a walled Roman enclosure
  • Shows the Romans as being more compassionate and kind
  • Also suggests they have more resources if they’re able to build an enclosure to keep them in
38
Q

How are the Roman prisoners depicted on the column and what does this show?

A
  • Dacian women torture captured Romans
  • They have been stripped naked and are being burned with flaming torches
  • Shows Dacians as barbaric, as their women are violent and not subservient, which is the opposite of Roman women
39
Q

What does the scene of Dacian women being taken as slaves show?

A
  • Contains women and babies
  • Even though they’re being taken as slaves, they’re not being handled aggressively, showing the Roman’s control and composure
40
Q

What does the scene depicting a trophy made from weapons and armour of defeated Dacians soldiers show?

A
  • Shows Roman’s as humble and pious
  • Spoils of war are bing given to Gods to thank them, Votive offering
41
Q

What does the scene depicting treasure being loaded into saddlebags show?

A
  • Roman’s are taking treasure calmly instead of just taking what they want and going
42
Q

What does the scene depicting the Romans crossing the Danube river (shown as an old man) show?

A
  • The old man is trapped, which shows that the God that may once have supported Dacians now can’t help
  • Dacian Gods easily overcome by Roman ingenuity
43
Q

What does the scene depicting the Romans fighting the Dacians aided by Jupiter show?

A
  • Jupiter showing strength
  • All the Dacian’s shields are at different angles, showing they’re not as controlled
44
Q

What does the scene depicting Victoria (Goddess of Victory) writing on a shield show?

A
  • Inscribing Roman’s victory into histroy
  • She’s standing on a Dacian helmet, instating Roman imperial hierarchy
45
Q

How do the scenes after the Dacian defeat portray the Dacians?

A
  • Running away from Romans, panicked and cowardly
  • Only unified in their fear of Romans
  • Most prestigious people killing themselves
  • Poison is a feminine way to die, showing themselves to be effeminate
46
Q

Who and what is shown on the top of the Arch? (FRONT)

A
  • The Gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva
  • Jupiter holds out a lightning bolt to Trajan
  • Trajan looking towards the centre of the arch
46
Q

What was the arch of trajan built to commemorate?

A
  • Trajan’s reign
  • The opening of a new road
47
Q

How are Rome, and the Romans made to seem strong on the Arch of Trajan?

A
  • Trajan is shown handing out money to children, making him look wealthy
48
Q

How is Trajan made to seem like a successful leader on the Arch of Trajan?

A
  • Depicts a barbarian pleading with Trajan, which shows he must have been feared due to his military success
  • Features scenes of Trajan’s achievements, such as foundation of cities and organisation of corn supply
  • The inscription recognises many different titles, with a lot of them being ones that he held for multiple years- Consul for the Sixth time, Imperator for the seventh time etc.
49
Q

How are the Dacian campaigns made to seem beneficial for Rome on the Arch?

A
  • Shows children, who are a reference to the support system for the poor and orphaned set up using Dacian gold
50
Q

How is Trajan made to appear superhuman on the Arch?

A
  • Jupiter is shown giving his lightning bolt to Trajan- it seems as though he’s recognising him as an equal
51
Q

Who and what is shown on the middle of the Arch? (FRONT)

A
  • Winged Victoria slaying bulls
52
Q

What is shown on the bottom of the Arch? (FRONT)

A
  • Scenes focusing on the Emperor’s civic acts at home and abdorad
  • Foundation of cities, reorganization of corn supply etc.
53
Q

Who and what is shown at the top of the Arch? (BACK)

A
  • 4 Gods depicted- Diana, Sylvanus (fields and flocks), Liber and Libera (wine, fertility and freedom)
  • All these divinities were associated with the protection of Dacia Traiana
  • Kneeling barbarian pleads with Trajan for mercy
54
Q

Who and what is shown in the middle of the Arch? (BACK)

A
  • Personifications of rivers
  • Frieze depicting a triumph, probably Trajan’s second Dacian triumph of CE 107
55
Q

Who and what is shown on the bottom of the Arch? (BACK)

A
  • Depict military scenes, including recruitment of soldiers and scenes from wars in the East
  • Winged Victoria, slaying bulls
56
Q

Who and what was shown inside the Arch?

A
  • Trajan presiding over a sacrifice
  • Trajan handing out money to children