Alimenta Research Paper

On the other hand the Roman system of Alimenta shares a great deal of similarities with modern welfare as it is currently known, the Roman Empire being the birth place of many currently utilized government systems. Originally Alimenta actually began under the reign of the first Roman emperor known as Augustus, at this time it was referred to as Cura Annonae which stood for "care for the grain supply", as the name would imply this particular system under Augustus dealt more with grain than financial status. The Cura Annonae focused upon attempting to provide rations of grain to citizens of the Roman Empire who could not themselves afford to purchase food for themselves or their families, this is the first recorded instance in history of a system
Rome's establishment of early welfare systems did not stop here however as the simple system known as Cura Annonae was later expanded upon by the emperors Nerva and Trajan who would first give it's title of Alimenta. Though Trajan is better known for his efforts with Alimenta due to Nerva's short rule it was nevertheless Emperor Nerva who first further developed the Alimenta in 96 AD, having expanded on Cura Annonae to also provide farmable land to the poor citizens who would benefit from it while also providing them tax cuts where needed. In 98 AD Shortly after being emperor Trajan expanded the Alimenta enormously, the system as a whole often being credited to him as a result, turning it into the system that would exist throughout the Roman Empire for the majority of it's remaining history. Trajan expanded the Alimenta to cover financial aid to the poorest individuals in the empire, notably in the case of orphans and poor children throughout what is now Italy who he even provided subsidized education