This thesis looks at the use of the Roman imperial alimenta which was established by the emperor Trajan at the turn of the second century AD. The alimenta sought to provide subsistence in the form...Show moreThis thesis looks at the use of the Roman imperial alimenta which was established by the emperor Trajan at the turn of the second century AD. The alimenta sought to provide subsistence in the form of small cash payments to aid parents in providing for their children. While such schemes had existed for some time in the form of private endowments, one must wonder why Trajan should choose to establish a much larger system stretching across Italy. The scale of such an undertaking had never been performed exclusively for children in the past and one must wonder how their place and role in society had changed by this time to make their investment worthwhile. As such this thesis looks at the demographic, economic and symbolic value's to be found in children and the value of such investment to the stability of Trajan's rule.Show less
This paper is a study on the ancient signaling methods used on the frontiers of Britain and Dacia. By approaching the conquest of both provinces from a historical and an archaeological point of...Show moreThis paper is a study on the ancient signaling methods used on the frontiers of Britain and Dacia. By approaching the conquest of both provinces from a historical and an archaeological point of view, the reasons behind the creation of the frontiers will be better understood. With the help of ancient sources such as Plutarch, Suetonius, Plinius the Elder, Cassius Dio and more recent sources such as D.J. Woolliscroft, D. Breeze, C.C. Petolescu and others, I have recreated the historical and ideological context in which the two provinces were conquered and the new frontiers created. The archaeological evidence comes to support the historical arguments and open up new perspectives. By observing the recreation and testing of ancient signaling methods on Hadrian`s Wall in Britain one would determine how to proper apply these methods on other frontiers as well. In this paper I have shown which are the methods used and what results they yielded in Britain and I have applied them on the frontier of Dacia. I have shown that these methods can be used in identifying new elements of the defense network, unknown before, around Dacia.Show less
