Rome: The Discipline Of Rome

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The Romans. The name itself has come to mean power, to mean ferocity, prosperity, and most importantly, incredible discipline. From the defeat of Carthage in 146 BC to the collapse of the Roman Empire, Rome managed to conquer costal Northern Africa and almost all of Western Europe. Rome was seeded by a huddle of united tribes with a purpose, and in the end, the overwhelming size of the empire was a participating factor in its eventual downfall. However, throughout it’s glorious reign, the Romans managed to control a society of some 50 million while building the most advanced civilisation of the ancient world. The Romans controlled their empire by “romanising" their conquered lands and peoples and exerting unique methods to reform, organise …show more content…

It seems that these seemingly petty needs, when met by superiors, assisted in keeping Romans happy, and therefore in line. Powerful figures used the simple concepts of positive and negative reinforcement to discipline the people. “Good” citizens were rewarded with Ludi (free entertainment) Largesse (gifts) and Annona (corn dole). Ludi and largesse were looked forward to on special occasions. Ludi took place in the form of chariot races, theatre performances and gladiator fights, and Largesse could be anything from feasts to gold handouts, the generosity of the distribution was left up to the emperor. Annona rations started as cheap, accessible wheat sales to feed the mounting number of Italic farmers rushing to urban areas after their businesses were overshadowed and went bankrupt in the face of large industrial farms. In the end, in the year of 55BC, the rations were made free. While the good citizens were rewarded, the bad were punished gravely. Law breaking or non-conforming plebeians were likely to be sentenced to death, while those pertaining to a higher class may be …show more content…

Corrupt tyrants such as Nero would rob their own citizens and mar Rome’s glory, but open minds and sensible leaders like Marcus Aurelius would invoke harmony in the empire and restore it’s honour. Using keen strategies of pleasing the public, unifying the people and utilising an effective army the Romans controlled a massive population and land span, creating an environment for cultivation and resulting in a legacy which has imprinted upon millions of us living