Italia

  • Italia is modern Italy. It was reorganised in 7 BCE into XI Regions under the Roman Emperor Augustus.

1. History

  • Pre-Roman history:
    • The Etruscan Civilisation (750-500 BCE) existed between the River Tiber and the River Po, and many of their customs were adopted by the Romans.
  • Founding of Rome:
  • Under the Kings (753-510 BCE)
  • Under The Republic: (509-29 BCE)
    • Italia was not a Province, but territory bordered in the North by the River Rubicon, which belonged to the City of Rome. This was a special status which continued under the Empire, when the Border was extended to the Alps. For instance, no Roman Commander was permitted to march his Armies into Italia.
    • Two types of Roman Cities: The Municipium – fairly independent of Rome. The Colonia – Colonies founded by Rome.
    • 91-88 BCE The Social War.
    • 88 BCE Full Roman Citizenship granted to all the Italian peoples in Rome’s territory.
    • 49 BCE The Great Roman Civil War: When Julius Caesar advanced on Rome with his Armies, his started the Civil War by literally Crossing the Rubicon which now means reaching the point of no return. By doing this he broke Roman Law, with the intention of suspending the Roman Republic and becoming Dictator, which led eventually, to the creation of the position of Roman Emperor of the Roman Empire.
    • 49 BCE Julius Caesar granted Roman Citizenship to Gallia Cisalpina the area of Northern Italy from the River Po to the Alps, which was then renamed Italia Transpadana.
  • After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE-476 CE):
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
    • Italia Suburbicaria (governed by Rome)
    • Italia Annonaria (governed by Milan)
  • After Constantine I’s reorganisation (330 CE):
      • 330 CE Capital of the Empire moved from Rome to Constantinople.
      • This change moved the Imperial Court and the Empire’s Civil Service from Rome. In 312 CE the Praetorian Guard was dissolved and the soldiers dispersed around the Frontier Legions, whilst its fortress base, the Castra Praetoria, was demolished.
      • After 312 CE, little is known of the Imperial Fleets of Ravenna and Misenum.
  • After the death of Theodosius (395 CE) and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
  • Famous Romans from Italy:
  •  Chief archeological Finds:
  • Historic Battle Sites:
  • Main Historical Sources for Rome:

2. Geography

3. Political Organisation

  • The City of Rome
  • Prefect of Rome
  • Tribes and Population:
    • Census of 28 BCE: 4,063,000 males
    • Census of 14 CE: 4,937,000 males;
      • Total Population in Italia, including women and children was 10,000,000.
  • Language:
    • Latin and Greek.

4. Military Organisation:

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports:
    • Glass, Pottery, Manufactured Goods.
    • Roman Wine
      • Stamps on Amphorae from Pompeian Wine Merchants have been found from Narbonne to Bordeaux.
    • Terra Sigillata
    • Pozzolana
    • Roman Glass
      • Glass manufacture produced colored glass vessels such as cups and vases, and a glass was known as ‘Aqua’, a transparent glass which had a pale blue green hue.
      • A highly specialized luxury glass was also produced and made into cups and vases.
      • Glass was also made for Mosaic Tiles which were coloured yellow, blue or green.
      • Sheet Glass first started to be used in windows in c. 100 CE. The Roman Baths in Xanten were double-glazed.
    • Bronze and Copperware factories
      • Hundreds of employees were based at factories in Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Capua). Every item bore the manufacturer’s stamp. The factories produced statues, wine containers, buckets, platters, ladles, bowls, kitchen pots and pans, bronze lampstands, tables, braziers and tripods.
    • Terracotta Lamps from Modena
    • Roman Jewellery
      • Roman Jewelry was manufactured in Rome but also in Antioch and Alexandria.
      • Under the Empire, Roman Jewelry became cheaper and was often made from moulds using Iron, Bronze, Tin, Silver and Gold. The Roman Intaglio was made of Gemstones set in Gold.
      • Jewelry consisted of Rings, Pins, Pendants, Earrings, Brooches, Bracelets, Necklaces and Tiaras with Precious Stones sometimes being added. In particular, Pearls were the most common.
    • Silver Tableware
      • Large dishes, bowls and jugs and serving spoons would be manufactured from solid silver and used for Banquets in the houses of affluent Romans across the Empire.
    • Roman Clothing
      • Wool came from Italy, and the finest wool came from Calabria, Apulia and particularly Tarentum. Most woolen garments were made from undyed wool in its natural colour. The Roman Toga was made from wool,
      • Linen was manufactured in Latium, Falerii and Paelignium.
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
  • Roman Wine
    • Pompeii. Very large wine estates existed around Pompeii.
    • Rome. Wine was also grown in estates around Rome, on the River Po, in Tuscany and on the Adriatic.
  • Manufacturing:
    • See Chief Exports.
  • Mines:
  • Mints:

6. Transport

  • Roman Roads:
  • Waterways:
    • River Po: The longest River, 405 miles (652km), from the Alps to the Adriatic.
    • R. Arno, and the Tiber (which flows through Rome)
  • Ports:
  • Ancient Trade Routes:
    • The Passes through the Alps to Gaul, Germany and the Danube.
    • The Amber Road from Aquileia to the Baltic.
    • The River Po from the Alps to the Adriatic.
    • Naples and Sicily sea routes to Africa and the East.
  • Number of Days taken to travel from Rome to the Provinces
    • Rome to Egypt could take 14 days with a following wind, but the return journey could be 6 weeks or more.

7. Relationship with the Provinces

  • The Provinces were ruled by Roman Law and Edicts issued from Rome, these could be harsh or fair depending on the Emperor.
  • Frontier Provinces were manned by one or more Legions while internal Provinces were often peaceful and wealthy.

8. History of Christianity in Rome

  • Rome is the second most important centre of Christianity after Jerusalem.
  • St. Peter is recognised by the Catholic Church as the first Bishop of Rome. The Popes have resided in Rome ever since.
  • St. Peter and Paul the Apostle are the Patron Saints of Rome. They were both martyred in Rome under Nero, either in 64 or 67 CE, according to the Annuario Pontifico, a list of all the Popes to date. Rome also has the Bones of five of the Apostles and the Relics of two more.
  • Vatican City. The Head of the Catholic Church is the Pope, who is the Sovereign Pontiff, Bishop of Rome and resides in the Vatican City in Rome.
  • Basilica of St. John Lateran (324 CE) As the Cathedral of Rome, it is considered to be the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Church, and ranks above all other Catholic Churches, including St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
  • St. Peter’s Basilica (c.1505-1626 CE) located in the Vatican City in Rome is the largest Christian Church in the world and is a site of Pilgrimage and Liturgical functions. It is regarded as the holiest of all shrines in the Catholic Church because of its location above the original Tomb of St. Peter.
  • Lateran Palace (312 CE)
    • The Lateran Palace is a Roman Palace, that was used as the principal residence of the Popes between c.312-1309 CE.

9. Roman Authors describing Italy

 

Italy

Get Directions Go to Visitor Map
Posted in .