Assess the role played by the Aoman Army in the local government of provinces and communities in the roman empire

Résumé du document

The Roman Empire had a very complex structure. It consisted in fact of three interconnected essential elements, each representing an instrument of the power. There was first of all, the central administration, then the provincial administration and finally, the army. This last one was strong and powerful. It was moreover often described as the first modern professional army, which was characterized by a precise organization, strict training and specialized structures. Thus, the army proved itself indispensable for the preservation of an Empire. It was indeed the army that assured its security and was, at the same time, the guarantor for the tenure of the power of the Emperor. But, considering its very important strength and a certain shape of independence, the army had also a sizable impact, in the social, economic, cultural and political domains of provinces. It was involved in their everyday life, not only as a visible presence, but especially as a representation of the Roman imperial power on cities and villages. So, how the Roman army had influenced and governed provinces and communities of the empire?

Extraits

[...] Campbell said it, Roman army was the largest single institution in the Roman Empire.”[3] It is necessary to know all the same that the army has of to act differently to answer the geographic and political differences of provinces. So, the troops had a sufficient strength for representing the Roman power in the smallest of military communities.4 Moreover, little by little, the emperor counted more and more on his troops and fewer and fewer on senatorial aristocracy of the Empire. Certain soldiers could even join the aristocracy. [...]

[...] It happened that in certain cases, provinces made themselves the police. The soldiers oversaw in fact essentially the various elements of the system of provinces. The army besides had a third role, which then had nothing to do with both first ones. The emperor saw in fact, the soldiers as a force of working force. So, regularly, the army was used for administrative tasks, as poster of letters, to collect taxes, etc. or still for works of construction. Certain soldiers played finally, a little military role. [...]

[...] Banditry was thus a question very difficult to resolve and the Roman Empire dedicated it a lot of time and money. Observation tower were built for instance, and soldiers sent for supervise. Furthermore, soldiers could be also prison guard. They also had to watch the movements of the population, assure the security of fields, temples, and fortresses. Certain units were placed under the orders of a governor of provinces, and acted then as the only forces of agency police. Nevertheless, this one was not still the only force of policing. [...]

[...] So, the army played an important role in the economic development of certain provinces and communities. The army influenced also much the society of nearby provinces and communities. It played so, a role in the culture and the spirituality of these. But, all the historians do not nevertheless share this opinion. There were in reality, two major phenomenons largely associated to the army, according to the historian Yves Le Bohec.[2] First of all, Provinces knew a Romanization. The army could indeed, to be considered as a " machine to form citizens. [...]

[...] It is finally important to see that the army was from now on, centralized in provinces. So, the first aim of the army in these provinces was to fight, to lead the war to defend their Empire. As. Garland expressed it, " the war is the expression of the whole society The army that was moved on the borders of the Empire thus, had to push away the enemies' outside attacks, mainly of barbarians. The success was obviously the major objective of the Roman army, the empire wanting the "pax romana". [...]