Free Printables for K-12 Education www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com

TRAJAN (53-117 C.E.)

The reached its descent who had succumbed to the greatest extent under Marcus Ulpius cruelty and rapacity of the emperors Traianus (Trajan), the fourteenth from to . emperor. Of him it was said that he "built the world over," and the Romans 2. What was the highest military themselves regarded him as the best, distinction open to a subject? and perhaps the greatest of their ______emperors. ______Trajan was a native of Italica, in ______Spain. The family to which he ______belonged was probably Italian, and not Iberian (Spanish), by blood. The younger Trajan was rigorously trained by his father, and 1. Where was Trajan born? deeply imbued with the same ______principles and tastes. Trajan was a ______soldier born and bred. No better ______representative of the true old hardy Roman type, little softened either by Trajan’s father, also Marcus luxury or education, had come to the Ulpius Traianus, began life as a head of affairs since the days of common legionary soldier, and fought Marius. The date of Trajan’s birth was his way up to the consulship and the probably 53 C.E. His training was governorship of Asia. Traianus the almost exclusively military, but his elder was one of the hardest fighters experience as an officer gave him an in Judæa under Vespasian and Titus. acquaintance with almost every He served, too, against the Parthians, important province of the empire, and won the highest military which was of priceless value to him distinction open to a subject, the grant when he came to the throne. of the triumphal insignia. Thus Traianus the elder acquired a 3. When was Trajan born? prominent place among the brand new ______patricians created by the Flavians as ______substitutes for the nobles of old ______

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 2 Vocabulary Terms: Match each vocabulary term with its meaning.

4. _____ a person one knows who is not close enough to be called a friend 5. _____ badge of honor or office 6. _____ distinguishing as different 7. _____ greedy or predatory 8. _____ inspired with feelings, opinions, or thoughts 9. _____ into separate parts 10. _____ quality of being cruel 11. _____ rigidly harsh 12. _____ thought of with a particular feeling 13. _____ yielded

Meanings of Vocabulary Terms

(A) acquaintance (F) insignia (B) asunder (G) rapacity (C) cruelty (H) regarded (D) distinction (I) rigorously (E) imbued (J) succumbed

For ten years Trajan held a ordered in hot haste from Farther commission as military tribune, which Spain to the Rhine. Although he took him to many lands far asunder; carried his troops over that long and then he filled important posts in Syria arduous march with almost and Spain. How much actual warfare unexampled rapidity, he only arrived Trajan saw in those days we can after the insurrection had been put hardly tell. He certainly went through down. But Trajan’s promptitude raised some severe service under his father's him higher in the favor of , command against the Parthians. and he was advanced to the consulship By the year 89 C.E., Trajan had in 91 C.E. Of the next five years of his achieved a considerable reputation. At life we know nothing positively. It is that time L. Antonius Saturninus not unlikely that they were spent at headed a rebellion in Germany, which Rome or in Italy in the fulfillment of threatened seriously to bring some official duties. Domitian's rule to an end. Trajan was Trajan 14. Who led a rebellion in Germany? 15. Trajan was made a _____ in 91 ______C.E. ______a. censor ______b. consul ______c. praetor ______d. senator

______

When the revolution of 96 C.E. could not find an to control came, and replaced the the army, the army would find murdered Domitian, Trajan had another Domitian to trample the conferred upon him one of the most Senate under foot. In his difficulties, important posts in the Empire, that of Nerva took counsel with L. Licinius consular legate of Upper Germany. An Sura, a lifelong friend of Trajan, and officer whose nature, as the event in , 97 C.E., he ascended the showed, was interpenetrated with the Capitol, and with all due solemnity spirit of legality, was a fitting servant proclaimed that he adopted Trajan as of a revolution whose aim it was to his son. substitute legality for personal caprice, as the dominant principle of 17. Why was it clear to Nerva that affairs. he had to control the army? ______16. Who became emperor after the ______death of Domitian? ______

The short reign of Nerva really 18. Why did Nerva adopt Trajan as did start the Empire on a new career, his son? which lasted more than three-quarters ______of a century. But it also demonstrated ______how impossible it was for anyone to ______govern at all who had no claim, either ______personal or inherited, to the respect of ______the legions. Nerva saw that if he ______

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 4 Vocabulary Terms: Match each vocabulary term with its meaning.

19. _____ a sudden and unpredictable change 20. _____ act of doing or performing without delay 21. _____ act of rising in rebellion or revolt 22. _____ celerity or quickness 23. _____ consulted together 24. _____ difficult or laborious 25. _____ earnestness or gravity 26. _____ lawfulness 27. _____ rather large in extent or size 28. _____ repute

Meanings of Vocabulary Terms

(A) arduous (F) legality (B) caprice (G) promptitude (C) conferred (H) rapidity (D) considerable (I) reputation (E) insurrection (J) solemnity

The Senate confirmed the to Lower Germany, to assure himself choice, and acknowledged the of the fidelity of the troops in that emperor's adopted son as his province, and while at Cologne he successor. In a letter which Nerva received news of Nerva's death sent at once to Trajan, he quoted most (January, 98 C.E.). significantly a line from the beginning of the Iliad, where Chryses, insulted 29. When did Trajan receive news of by Achilles, prays to : "May thy Nerva’s death? shafts afford me vengeance on the ______Greeks for my tears." After a little ______hesitation Trajan accepted the ______position, which was marked by the titles of , Cæsar, and The authority of the new Germanicus, and by the tribunician emperor was recognized at once all the authority. He immediately proceeded Empire over. The novel fact that a Trajan master of the Romans should have 31. How long after becoming been born on Spanish soil seems to emperor did Trajan visit Rome? have passed with little remark, and ______this very absence of notice is ______significant. Trajan's first care as ______emperor was to write to the Senate an assurance like that which had been In Trajan’s dealings with the given by Nerva, that he would neither mutinous prætorians, the strength of kill nor degrade any senator. He the new emperor's hand was shown at ordered the establishment of a temple once. He ordered a portion of the force and cult in honor of his adoptive to Germany. They did not venture to father, but he did not present himself disobey, and were distributed among at Rome for nearly two years after his the legions there. Those who remained accession. Possibly he had taken at Rome were easily overawed and measures before Nerva's death to reformed. secure the revenge which Nerva It is still more surprising that craved, but probably did not live to the soldiers should have quietly see. submitted to a reduction in the amount of the donative or gift which it 30. Why, in your opinion, did Trajan was customary for them to receive make assurances to the Roman from a new emperor, though the civil Senate? population of the capital were paid ______their largess (congiarium) in full. By ______politic management Trajan was able ______to represent the diminution as a sort ______of discount for immediate payment, ______while the civilians had to wait a ______considerable time before their full due ______was handed to them. ______The secret of Trajan's power lay ______in his close personal relations with the ______officers and men of the army, and in ______the soldierly qualities which ______commanded their esteem. He ______possessed courage, justice, and ______frankness to a high degree. Having a ______good title to military distinction

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 6 Trajan himself, he could afford, as the ______unwarlike emperors could not, to be ______generous to his officers. The common ______soldiers, on the other hand, were ______fascinated by his personal prowess ______and his somewhat ostentatious ______camaraderie. ______32. Describe the secret of Trajan’s ______power in your own words. ______

Word Search Puzzle

S I G N I F I C A N T V

P W C O L O G N E T S A Terms S R H I C N W Y C B U U assurance U N A O U G N T N F O U civilians C O I E S Y A I A C I E Cologne customary C I F M T K J L R Z T M diminution distinction E T X P O O A E U D A D fidelity

S U G L M J R D S V T S Nerva

ostentatious S N N H A Q T I S E N L praetorians O I N E R V A F A R E C significant R M A O Y P R B S N T K successor C I V I L I A N S Q S T Trajan

J D I S T I N C T I O N

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 7

Trajan’s features were firm and ______clearly cut. His figure was tall and ______soldierly, and exhibited the sinewy ______hard health of a veteran campaigner. ______His hair was already gray before he ______came to the throne, though he was not ______more than forty-four years old. The ______stoutness of the emperor's arm had ______been proved in the face of his men in ______many a hard fight. When in military service, he used the mean fare of the Trajan emphasized at once his common private, dining on salt pork, personal control and the cheese, and sour wine. Nothing constitutionality of his sway, by pleased him better than to take part bearing on his campaigns the actual with the centurion, or the soldier in title of "proconsul," which no other fencing or other military exercise, and emperor had done. All things he would applaud any shrewd blow considered, it is not surprising that he which fell upon his own helmet. was able, without serious opposition He loved to display his from the army, to remodel the whole acquaintance with the career of military institutions of the empire, distinguished veterans, and to talk and to bring them into a shape from with them of their battles and their which there was comparatively little wounds. Probably he lost nothing of departure so long as the army lasted. his popularity with the army by In disciplinary matters no emperor occasional free indulgence in sensual since Augustus had been able to keep pleasures, with which, as the historian so strong a control over the troops. Bacon remarks, the soldier is apt to Pliny rightly praises Trajan as the pay himself for the perils he lawgiver and the founder of discipline. encounters. Yet every man felt and Vegetius classes Augustus, Trajan, knew that no detail of military duty, and together as restorers of however minute, escaped the the morale of the army. The emperor's eye, and that any relaxation confidence which existed between of discipline would be rigidly Trajan and his army finds expression punished, yet with unwavering justice. in some of the coins of his reign.

33. Why was the Roman military 34. In your own country today, is it loyal to Emperor Trajan? important for the national leader to Trajan have the respect of the military? the envy of Augustus, is traceable in Why or why not? its main extent at the present day. ______35. Trajan spent his first two years ______as emperor doing what? ______Among a people of road-makers, ______Trajan was one of the greatest, and we ______have definite evidence from ______inscriptions that some of the military ______roads in this region were constructed by him. The more secure control which For nearly two years after his the Romans now maintained over the election, Trajan did not appear in territory within the limes, tended to Rome. He had decided already what its rapid civilization. The Roman the great task of his reign should be— influence, if not the Roman arms, soon the establishment of security upon the began to affect powerfully the regions dangerous north-eastern frontier. beyond. Before visiting the capital he determined to put affairs in train for 36. Explain the long-term the attainment of this great object. He significance of the expansive made a thorough inspection of the building of Roman roads. great lines of defense between the ______Danube and the Rhine, and framed, ______and partly carried out, a vast scheme ______for strengthening and securing them. ______The policy of opposing uncivilized ______tribes by the construction of the limes, ______a raised embankment of earth or other ______material, intersected here and there ______by fortifications, was not his invention, but it owed in great After his careful survey of the measure its development to him. This Rhine end of the great defensive grand work, which would have excited barrier, Trajan proceeded to consider

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 9

Trajan it and plan it from the Danube. From craftsmen skilled in all kinds of the age of Tiberius onward, the construction, but particularly in the Romans possessed the whole southern erection of fortifications and defensive bank of the river from its source to the works. Euxine. But the precarious tenure of During the nine or ten years their possession had been deeply which had elapsed since the impressed on them by the disasters conclusion of this remarkable treaty, and humiliations they had undergone the Dacian prince had immensely in these districts during the reign of strengthened the approaches to his Domitian. A prince had arisen among kingdom from the Roman side. the Dacians, Decebalus by name, Decebalus had also equipped and worthy to be placed at the head of all drilled his formidable army after the the great barbarian antagonists of Roman fashion. It was impossible for a Rome. Like Maroboduus, he was able soldier like Trajan to endure the to combine the forces of tribes conditions laid down by Domitian. commonly hostile to each other, and But the conquest of Dacia had become his military ability almost went the one of the most formidable tasks that length of . had ever confronted the Empire. Trajan, no doubt, planned a war 37. What Dacian came to power? before he left the Danube for Rome ______late in 99 C.E. ______38. Decebalus spent the nine or ten years following his treaty with After Decebalus had swept the Rome doing what? province of Mœsia bare, he was ______defeated by one of Domitian's ______lieutenants. But the position of affairs ______on the Danubio-Rhenish border was ______still so threatening, that the emperor ______was glad to conclude a treaty which ______conferred extraordinary advantages on his foe. Not only did the Romans The arrival of the emperor had stipulate to pay to Decebalus an been awaited in the capital with an annual subsidy, which he must have impatience which is expressed by regarded as a tribute, but they agreed Pliny and by Martial. All that had to supply him with engineers and happened since Trajan's elevation to

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 10

Trajan the throne had raised high at Rome Trajan seized every opportunity the hope of a prosperous and glorious for emphasizing his view that the reign. As Trajan entered the city and princeps was merely the greatest of went on foot to the Capitol, the the magistrates, and so was not above, plaudits of the people were but under, the laws. Trajan was unmistakably genuine. determined, he said, to be to his During Trajan’s stay in the city, subjects such a ruler as he had desired he riveted more firmly still the for himself when a subject. There is a affections both of the Senate and of pretty story to the effect that he the people. The reconciliation of the handed the commander of the Empire with liberty, inaugurated, as prætorians his sword, and said, "Use it Tacitus says, by Nerva, seemed now to for me if I do well, but against me if I be securely achieved. Trajan was do ill." Martial, who had called absolutely open and simple, and lived Domitian his lord and his god, now with men at Rome as he had lived cried, "In him we have no lord, but an with his soldiers while on service. He imperator!" realized the Senate's ideal of the Real power and influence were citizen ruler. The assurance that no accorded to the Senate, which had senator should suffer was renewed by now, by the incorporation of members oath. whose origin was provincial (coming All the old republican from the Roman provinces), become in formalities were most punctiliously a manner representative of the whole observed—even those attendant on the empire. Trajan associated with the emperor's election to the consulate, so senators on equal terms, and enjoyed far as they did not involve a in their company every kind of restoration of the old order of voting at recreation. All pomp was distasteful to the comitia (Assembly). The Trajan, and discarded by him. There veneration for republican tradition is was practically no court, and no curiously attested by the reproduction intrigues of any kind were possible. of many republican types of coin The approach to Trajan’s house was struck by senatorial officers. free, and he loved to pass through the city unattended, and to pay 39. Trajan reinstituted the Roman unexpected visits to his friends. He Assembly (comitia). thirsted for no senator's blood, and a. True used severity against the delatores b. False alone. There was but one insignificant

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 11

Trajan conspiracy against Trajan during his populace, at the outset of his reign, he whole reign. availed himself of the occasion of his first triumph to restore them again. 40. Trajan held himself above the The people were delighted by the people, and kept as far away from removal of the imperial exedra in the them as possible. circus, whereby five thousand a. True additional places were provided. b. False 42. What form of entertainment did Though not literary himself, Trajan ban at the outset of his Trajan conciliated the literary men, reign? who at all times had close relations ______with the Senate. His intimate, M. ______Licinius, played an excellent Mæcenas ______to his Augustus. In Trajan’s efforts to win the affections of Roman society, he Taxation was in many directions was excellently aided by his wife reduced, and the financial exactions of Plotina, who was as simple as her the imperial officers controlled by the husband, benevolent, pure in erection of a special court. Elaborate character, and entirely unambitious. precautions were taken to save Italy from famine. It is said that corn for 41. Who was Trajan’s wife? seven years' consumption at the ______capital was retained in the granaries. ______Special encouragement was given to ______merchants to import articles of food. The corporation of bakers was The hold which Trajan acquired organized, and made more effective for over the people was no less firm than the service of the public. The internal that which he maintained upon the trade of Italy was powerfully army and the Senate. His largesses, stimulated by the careful maintenance his distributions of food, his public and extension of the different lines of works, and his spectacles were all on a road. generous scale. The exhibitions in the But the most striking evidence arena were perhaps at their zenith of Trajan's solicitude for his people's during his tenure of power. Though, welfare is found in his institution of for some unexplained reason, he the alimenta, whereby means were abolished the mimes, so beloved of the provided for the rearing of poor and

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 12

Trajan orphaned children in Italy. The fighting, victory in this war depended method had been sketched out by largely on the work of the engineer. Nerva, but its great development was The great military road connecting the due to Trajan. The moneys allotted by posts in Upper Germany with those on the emperor were in many cases the Danube, which had been begun by supplemented by private benevolence. Tiberius, was now extended along the As a soldier, Trajan realized the need right bank of the river as far as the of men for the maintenance of the modern Orsova. The year 101 C.E. Empire against the outer barbarians, was spent mainly in road-making and and he preferred that these men fortification. should be of Italian birth. He was only In the following campaign, after carrying a step further the policy of desperate fighting to the north of the Augustus, who by a system of rewards Danube in the mountainous region of and penalties had tried to encourage Transylvania, such as Cæsar never marriage and the nurture of children. encountered in all his Gallic wars, the The annual effect of Trajan's capital of Decebalus was taken, and he regulations is hard to measure; they was forced to terms. Decebalus agreed were probably more effectual for their to raze all fortresses, to surrender all object than those of Augustus. The weapons, prisoners, and Roman foundations were confiscated by deserters, and to become a dependent , after they had existed less prince under the suzerainty of Rome. than a century. Trajan came back to Italy with Dacian envoys, who in ancient style begged 43. Describe the alimenta. the Senate to confirm the conditions ______granted by the commander in the ______field. The emperor now enjoyed his ______first Dacian triumph, and assumed ______the title of Dacicus. At the same time ______he royally entertained the people, and ______no less royally rewarded his brave ______officers.

Toward the end of 100 C.E., or 44. What title did Trajan assume early in 101 C.E., Trajan left Rome for following his Dacian triumph? the Danube. Pretexts for a Dacian ______war were not difficult to find. ______Although there was no lack of hard ______

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 13 Trajan But the Dacian chief could not laden with captured treasure. His school his high spirit to endure the triumph outdid in splendor all those conditions of the treaty, and Trajan that went before it. Games are said to soon found it necessary to prepare for have been held continuously for four another war. A massive stone bridge months. The races were the was built across the Danube, near the grandest ever seen. Ten thousand modern Drobeta-Turnu Severin gladiators contended in the arena, and (Tower of Severus), by Apollodorus, eleven thousand beasts were killed in the gifted architect who afterward the contests. Congratulatory designed the forum of Trajan. In 105 embassies came from all lands, even C.E. began the new struggle, which on from India. The grand and enduring the side of Decebalus could now only monument of the Dacian wars is the lead to victory or to destruction. The noble pillar which still stands on the Dacians fought their ground inch by site of Trajan's forum at Rome. The inch, and their army as a whole may end of the Dacian wars was followed be said to have bled to death. The by seven years of peace. prince put an end to his own life. His kingdom became an imperial province; 47. How many years of peace in it many colonies were founded, and followed the Dacian wars? peopled by settlers drawn from a. 4 different parts of the empire. b. 5 c. 6 45. Who designed the forum of d. 7 Trajan? ______Many details in the ______administration of the law, and ______particularly of the criminal law, were improved. To cure corruption in the 46. Following his final defeat, Senate, the ballot was introduced at Decebalus committed suicide. elections to magistracies. The a. True finances of the state were economically b. False managed, and taxpayers were most carefully guarded from oppression. The work done by Trajan in the Trajan never lacked money to expend Danubian regions left a lasting mark on great works of public utility; as a upon their history. The emperor builder, he may fairly be compared returned to the capital in 106 C.E., with Augustus. Trajan’s forum and its

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 14

Trajan numerous appendages were the conflict which made Trajan appear constructed on a magnificent scale. in the eyes of Christians like Tertullian, the most infamous of 48. What was introduced to end monsters. On the whole, Trajan's civil corruption in the Senate? administration was sound, careful, ______and sensible, rather than brilliant or ______epoch-making. ______49. Based on your knowledge of ______Roman law and religion, why was it ______“impossible…for a Roman magistrate of the time to rid Many regions of Italy and the himself of the idea that all forms of provinces, besides the city itself, religion must do homage to the civil benefited from the care and power”? munificence which the emperor ______bestowed on such public ______improvements. His attitude toward ______religion was, like that of Augustus, ______moderate and conservative. The ______famous letter to Pliny about the ______Christians is, according to Roman ______ideas, merciful and considerate. It was ______impossible, however, for a Roman ______magistrate of the time to rid himself of ______the idea that all forms of religion must ______do homage to the civil power. Hence ______

Rome under Trajan—A chariot race.

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 15

In 113 or 114 C.E., Trajan left ______Italy to make war in the East. The ______never-ending Parthian problem ______confronted him, and with it were more or less connected a number of minor These territorial changes could difficulties. Already by 106 C.E., the not but affect the relations of the position of Rome in the East had been Roman with the Parthian empire, and materially improved by the peaceful the affairs of Armenia became, in 114 annexation of districts bordering on C.E., the occasion of war. Trajan's the province of Syria. The district of campaigns in the East ended in Damascus, hitherto a dependency, and complete, though brilliant, failure. In the last remaining fragment of the the retreat from Ctesiphon (117 C.E.), Jewish kingdom, were incorporated the old emperor tasted for almost the with Syria. Bostra and Petra were first time the bitterness of defeat in permanently occupied, and a great the field. portion of the Nabathæan kingdom Trajan attacked the desert city was constituted the Roman province of of Hatra, westward of the Tigris, Arabia. Rome thus obtained mastery whose importance is still attested by of the most important positions lying grand ruins. The want of water made on the great trade-routes from East to it impossible to maintain a large force West. near the city, and the brave Arabs routed the Roman cavalry. Trajan, 50. What areas were incorporated who narrowly escaped being killed, into Syria? was forced to withdraw. ______

Artistic Expression: Illustrate a scene from Trajan’s military conquests.

Trajan Map Work

51. Color the Danube River red.

52. Outline Syria in blue.

53. Outline the place of Trajan’s birth in purple.

54. Outline the Tigris River in orange.

55. Draw a triangle over the city of Jerusalem.

56. Which of the following bodies of water did not border Trajan’s empire? a. Atlantic Ocean b. Baltic Sea c. Caspian Sea d. Red Sea

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 17

A more alarming difficulty lay ______before Trajan. Taking advantage of ______the absence of the emperor in the Far ______East, and possibly by an understanding with the leaders of the Trajan, who had no children, rising in Armenia and the annexed had continually delayed to settle the portions of Parthia, the Jews all over succession to the throne, though Pliny, the East had taken up arms at the in the "Panegyric" had pointedly same moment, and at a given signal. drawn his attention to the matter, and The massacres they committed were it must have caused the Senate much portentous. In Cyprus, 240,000 men anxiety. Whether Hadrian, the cousin are said to have been put to death, of Trajan, was actually adopted by and at Cyrene 220,000. At him or not, is impossible to determine. Alexandria, on the other hand, many Certainly, Hadrian had not been Jews were killed. The Romans advanced to any great honors by punished massacre by massacre, and Trajan. Even his military service had the complete suppression of the not been distinguished. Plotina insurrection was long delayed, but the asserted the adoption, and it was Jews made no great stand against readily and most fortunately accepted, disciplined troops. if not believed, as a fact.

57. What group of people waged a 59. Who became emperor following rebellion all over the East? the death of Trajan? ______

Trajan still thought of returning The Senate had decreed to to Mesopotamia, and of avenging his Trajan as many triumphs as he chose defeat at Hatra, but he was stricken to celebrate. For the first time a dead with sickness and compelled to take general triumphed. When Trajan was ship for Italy. His illness increasing, deified, he appropriately retained, he landed in Cilicia, and died at alone among the emperors, a title he Selinus in that country about the end had won for himself in the field, that of July, 117 C.E. of "Parthicus." He was a patient organizer of victory rather than a 58. Where did Trajan die? strategic genius. He laboriously Trajan perfected the military machine, which felicitas of Augustus by his retirement when once set in motion went on to from the right bank of the Rhine. victory. Much of the work he did was great and enduring, but the last year 60. Why did the Romans fail to of his life forbade the Romans to attribute to Trajan “that felicitas attribute to him that felicitas which which they regarded as an inborn they regarded as an inborn quality of quality of the highest generals”? the highest generals. Each succeeding ______emperor was saluted with the wish ______that he might be "better than Trajan ______and more fortunate than Augustus." ______Yet the breach made in Trajan's ______felicitas by the failure in the East was ______no greater than that made in the ______

Essay Question: What, from the life of Trajan, would you most like to emulate? What would you most like to avoid? Explain your answers.

______

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 19