Roman Empire Research Paper
There is much controversy when determining whether Roman rule benefited the entire empire, or just the city of Rome and Italy. There are more facts that point toward Roman rule benefiting the whole empire, not just Rome and Italy. The roads built throughout the empire were an advantage to everyone, the education system was fair to Roman children, and trading was active all over the Roman Empire.
Roads built by the Roman army throughout the empire assisted everyone who was in the empire. "These technological advantages made the shipment of goods across land much easier." Food, clothing, and other necessities were needed in densely populated areas of the empire; the roads made it so much easier to get these items from one place to another. Roman …show more content…
roads were one of the ways in which the empire was able to achieve military success. They enabled the army to efficiently travel to places faster, which helped to aid the citizens incase of possible invasions. These roads allowed merchants a safer and easier way to travel from town to town, in the empire. "From the southeastern corner of the empire, the Romans imported many dyes for clothing and make-up from the Near East." There were large fortresses built along the roads, in order to make sure merchants and their belongings would not be harmed. The roads benefited all citizens in the empire, since the roads assisted in delivering goods, directing the army, and protecting merchants.
The Roman education system was fair to the children in the entire empire.
Literacy was extremely important in these days for everyone in the Roman Empire. "The first thing Roman children had to learn was how to read and write. The written word was all around them in public buildings." Families were given choices of how their children could be educated. Some children were taught at home by a private tutor or a slave, some were sent to private school and for those who could not afford either, there were public schools in the cities. The children of the empire also were briefly introduced to mathematics. Roman numerals were created and used to record numbers; their great strength is that they are difficult to falsify. Therefore, all Roman children being taught to be literate, choices for education, and the introduction of roman numerals all came together to make the Roman education system fair for everyone in the entire …show more content…
empire.
Trading was very popular in the empire, whether it was needed or just for pleasure. Merchants brought goods from all areas of the "world" into the empire and out to many towns and cities. "They brought silk from China, ivory from Africa, and spices from India." It was also important that the empire had enough food imported for the increasing population, in specific cities. "Rome itself produced a lot of cereal grasses, vegetables, fruits (grapes and olives), sheep, pigs, and goats that they traded amongst themselves." Within the empire, merchants traded goods all over the empire. The every day person in Rome could find pottery, clothing, shoes, mantels, and lamps at local markets; these markets were within walking distance to most of those within the Empire. Because of the imports from outer countries and, the trading inside of the empire, trading overall benefited all of the citizens in the empire.
On the other hand, a few aspects of Roman rule cause controversy to the argument: Roman rule benefited the whole empire, not just Rome and Italy. "The road system of the Ancient Romans was one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of its time, with over 50,000 miles of paved road radiating from the center of Rome." This statement proves that the roads were leading to Rome, so that it could benefit just the city of Rome instead of the empire. The merchants would have easily found their way to Rome using these well built roads. Sometimes the educational system was proven to be unfair. "After primary school, the boys from rich parents went to secondary school." Many of the wealthier families lived in Italy or even the city of Rome; this made it unfair to the poorer cities outside of Italy. Many trading deals were made with Rome because of its increasing population. Grain was bought by the Imperial agents, for distribution free of charge to the urban population of Rome. It is quite obvious that Roman rule had flaws because of the roads leading to Rome, the sometimes unfair educational system, and the trading deals made with the city of Rome.
The aspects of Roman rule may have had slight flaws, but what government do you know that is or was perfect?
Just because a few things benefited Rome and Italy, does not mean that it didn 't benefit the empire as well. For example, the roads extended from Rome because usually that was where the army was located. In order to find the fastest route to other cities, they directed the roads straight to them from Rome. All children got some sort of education, whether it was in a school or at home. Children with wealth were educated further because they would most likely be the ones who would help lead the empire when they got older. They needed to be prepared for their duties in the future. Much of the trade came to Rome but as merchants traveled there, they most likely stopped at all of the other cities along the way. These facts prove that things which benefited Rome and Italy also benefited the entire
empire.
According to the roads built throughout the empire, the education system for Roman children, and trading all over the Roman Empire, Roman rule benefited the whole empire, not just Rome and Italy. It is clear that all of the rules had an impact on the entire empire, even if it was implied just for Rome and Italy. In conclusion, Roman rule benefited the entire empire and has left an imprint on our way of "ruling" today.
Bibliography
Newman, Garfield. Echos From the Past: World History to the 16th Century, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, Toronto, 2001.
Smith, Hanible. http://www.geocities.com/haniblesmith/, cited May 7, 2004.
Unknown. "Greek and Roman Land Transportation," http://omega.cohums.ohio-state.edu/classes/1998-1999/WI/cla506.W99.mlm/land_transportation/Land%20Transportation.htm
Unknown. "The Roman Education," http://library.thinkquest.org/22866/English/FRAME.HTML, cited May 7, 2004.
Vickers, Micheal. The Making of the Past: The Roman World, Elsevier Publishing, Lausanne, 1977.
Roads built by the Roman army throughout the empire assisted everyone who was in the empire. "These technological advantages made the shipment of goods across land much easier." Food, clothing, and other necessities were needed in densely populated areas of the empire; the roads made it so much easier to get these items from one place to another. Roman …show more content…
roads were one of the ways in which the empire was able to achieve military success. They enabled the army to efficiently travel to places faster, which helped to aid the citizens incase of possible invasions. These roads allowed merchants a safer and easier way to travel from town to town, in the empire. "From the southeastern corner of the empire, the Romans imported many dyes for clothing and make-up from the Near East." There were large fortresses built along the roads, in order to make sure merchants and their belongings would not be harmed. The roads benefited all citizens in the empire, since the roads assisted in delivering goods, directing the army, and protecting merchants.
The Roman education system was fair to the children in the entire empire.
Literacy was extremely important in these days for everyone in the Roman Empire. "The first thing Roman children had to learn was how to read and write. The written word was all around them in public buildings." Families were given choices of how their children could be educated. Some children were taught at home by a private tutor or a slave, some were sent to private school and for those who could not afford either, there were public schools in the cities. The children of the empire also were briefly introduced to mathematics. Roman numerals were created and used to record numbers; their great strength is that they are difficult to falsify. Therefore, all Roman children being taught to be literate, choices for education, and the introduction of roman numerals all came together to make the Roman education system fair for everyone in the entire …show more content…
empire.
Trading was very popular in the empire, whether it was needed or just for pleasure. Merchants brought goods from all areas of the "world" into the empire and out to many towns and cities. "They brought silk from China, ivory from Africa, and spices from India." It was also important that the empire had enough food imported for the increasing population, in specific cities. "Rome itself produced a lot of cereal grasses, vegetables, fruits (grapes and olives), sheep, pigs, and goats that they traded amongst themselves." Within the empire, merchants traded goods all over the empire. The every day person in Rome could find pottery, clothing, shoes, mantels, and lamps at local markets; these markets were within walking distance to most of those within the Empire. Because of the imports from outer countries and, the trading inside of the empire, trading overall benefited all of the citizens in the empire.
On the other hand, a few aspects of Roman rule cause controversy to the argument: Roman rule benefited the whole empire, not just Rome and Italy. "The road system of the Ancient Romans was one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of its time, with over 50,000 miles of paved road radiating from the center of Rome." This statement proves that the roads were leading to Rome, so that it could benefit just the city of Rome instead of the empire. The merchants would have easily found their way to Rome using these well built roads. Sometimes the educational system was proven to be unfair. "After primary school, the boys from rich parents went to secondary school." Many of the wealthier families lived in Italy or even the city of Rome; this made it unfair to the poorer cities outside of Italy. Many trading deals were made with Rome because of its increasing population. Grain was bought by the Imperial agents, for distribution free of charge to the urban population of Rome. It is quite obvious that Roman rule had flaws because of the roads leading to Rome, the sometimes unfair educational system, and the trading deals made with the city of Rome.
The aspects of Roman rule may have had slight flaws, but what government do you know that is or was perfect?
Just because a few things benefited Rome and Italy, does not mean that it didn 't benefit the empire as well. For example, the roads extended from Rome because usually that was where the army was located. In order to find the fastest route to other cities, they directed the roads straight to them from Rome. All children got some sort of education, whether it was in a school or at home. Children with wealth were educated further because they would most likely be the ones who would help lead the empire when they got older. They needed to be prepared for their duties in the future. Much of the trade came to Rome but as merchants traveled there, they most likely stopped at all of the other cities along the way. These facts prove that things which benefited Rome and Italy also benefited the entire
empire.
According to the roads built throughout the empire, the education system for Roman children, and trading all over the Roman Empire, Roman rule benefited the whole empire, not just Rome and Italy. It is clear that all of the rules had an impact on the entire empire, even if it was implied just for Rome and Italy. In conclusion, Roman rule benefited the entire empire and has left an imprint on our way of "ruling" today.
Bibliography
Newman, Garfield. Echos From the Past: World History to the 16th Century, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, Toronto, 2001.
Smith, Hanible. http://www.geocities.com/haniblesmith/, cited May 7, 2004.
Unknown. "Greek and Roman Land Transportation," http://omega.cohums.ohio-state.edu/classes/1998-1999/WI/cla506.W99.mlm/land_transportation/Land%20Transportation.htm
Unknown. "The Roman Education," http://library.thinkquest.org/22866/English/FRAME.HTML, cited May 7, 2004.
Vickers, Micheal. The Making of the Past: The Roman World, Elsevier Publishing, Lausanne, 1977.