Free Printables for K-12 Education www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Trajan TRAJAN (53-117 C.E.) The Roman Empire reached its descent who had succumbed to the greatest extent under Marcus Ulpius cruelty and rapacity of the emperors Traianus (Trajan), the fourteenth from Tiberius to Nero. 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 Domitian, 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 Augustus to control came, and Nerva 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 October, 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 Apollo: "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 Imperator, 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