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==Background==Trajan’s reign Emperor Trajan (9853-117 AD) occurred at perhaps has traditionally been regarded as one of the greatest eras in Roman History. In the First Century A.D. the economy of Rome had been expanding for many years and the Empire continued Emperors’ (ruled from 98 to expand. The period witnessed a cultural renaissance and many of the great Latin writers wrote their greatest works at this time. Successive Emperors maintained the system 117 AD), but modern historians have argued that his legacy was perfected by Augustus, which was an imperial system that shared power with the Senatorial eliteat best mixed. This system had provided stability Trajan reign led to a large part of Europe and both positive impacts on the Near East. Marcus Ulpius Traianus was born in what is now modern Spain and was of Italian descent </ref> Bennett, JulianRoman Empire. While Trajan. Optimus Princeps. (Bloomington's foreign invasion Dacia, Indiana University PressArabia, 2001)and Mesopotamia created real benefit to the Empire, p. 18</ref>. His father his conquest of Parthia was a general ephemeral and governor and was later enrolled in wasteful. On the Senate. domestic side, Trajan grew up in Rome was a dynamic administrator, and he served with his father in Syria and he later enjoyed the favour did much to reverse some of the Emperor abuses that had developed under previous Emperors such as Domitian and in 91 AD he served as consul</ref>Bennet. Additionally, p 34</ref>. In 96 AD Domitian was assassinated his domestic policies helped to improve the socio-economic condition in a conspiracy and Nerva ascended the throneItaly. Trajan was governor  While Rome benefitted from many of Lower Germany his conquests and was in command policies, his invasion of several legions Parthia almost led to disaster and was a very important power broker in the years after the his gains were short-lived. After Trajan's death of Domitian. Nerva who , Hadrian was advanced in years adopted him as his son and heir<ref/>Bennet, p 46</ref>forced to abandon Parthia.  ====How did Trajan become the Roman Emperor?====

==Reign of Trajan==In Trajan’s reign (98 -117 AD Trajan became Emperor after ) occurred at perhaps one of the death of Nervagreatest eras in Roman History. Trajan proved to be an energetic ruler and immediately reduced In the First Century A.D., the influence economy of Rome had been expanding for many years, and the Praetorian Guard<ref> MommsenEmpire continued to expand. The period witnessed a cultural renaissance, Theodor A History and many of Rome Under the Emperors (London: Routledge, 1999), p 113</ref>great Latin writers wrote their greatest works at this time. He secured support Successive Emperors maintained the system that was perfected by offering donations to Augustus, which was an imperial system that shared power with the legions Senatorial elite. This system had provided stability to a large part of Europe and the population of Rome and reduced taxesNear East. Trajan Marcus Ulpius Traianus was very much a builder born in what is now modern Spain and he helped to finance many public buildings and ordered the building was of many aqueducts and prohibited wasteful expenditure on festivalsItalian descent. He also initiated a series of social welfare reforms<ref> Bennett, Julian. Trajan also overhauled the administration of the Empire and ended abuses by Senators. His domestic policy achievements are impressiveOptimus Princeps. (Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 2001), but his main focus was on military gloryp. He abandoned the policy of Augustus, of not seeking to expand 18</ref>  His father was a general and governor and was later enrolled in the Empire<SuetoniusSenate. Trajan grew up in Rome, Life and he served with his father in Syria, and he later enjoyed the favor of AugustusEmperor Domitian, xxvand in 91 AD he served as consul.</ref>Bennet, p. Only Britain had been added to 34</ref> In 96 AD, Domitian was assassinated in a conspiracy and Nerva ascended the Empire since the death of the first Emperorthrone. Trajan was determined to expand Rome’s borders governor of Lower Germany and for the first time was in command of several legions and was a century he pursued an active policy of conquestvery important power broker in the years after the death of Domitian. Nerva who was advanced in years adopted him as his son and heir. In modern Romania, a powerful confederation of Thracian tribes<ref>Bennet, p 46</ref> ====When did Emperor Trajan rule the Dacians had proven a formidable foe and had defeated Roman governors in the pastRoman Empire?====[[File: Trajan Four. Trajan after careful preparations invaded Dacia and in 101-102 reduced jpg|300px|thumb|left| Petra the Dacian kingdom to capital of the status of a vassal. HoweverNabatean Kingdom, today]]In 98 AD, in 105 the Dacians revolted and Trajan invaded became Emperor after the area and in a series death of bloody campaigns ended Nerva. Trajan proved to be an energetic ruler and immediately reduced the revolt with the capture influence of the capital Sarmizegethusa (106 AD). Dacian resistance was ended with Praetorian Guard.<ref> Mommsen, Theodor A History of Rome Under the suicide of their king and chief priestEmperors (London: Routledge, 1999), Decalbus. Trajan organised p 113</ref> He secured support by offering donations to the kingdom into a Roman Province legions and he encouraged settlers from all over the Empire to settle in the new territory<ref> Schmitzpopulation of Rome and reduced taxes.  After a series of civil wars that had weakened the Empire, Michael The Dacian Threat, 101–106 AD. Armidale, Australia: Caeros Pty, 2005), p 134</ref>Trajan helped to finance many public structures and ordered the building of many aqueducts. He also prohibited wasteful expenditure on festivals. Trajan was also initiated a restless figure and he seems to have sought to emulate the achievements series of Alexander social welfare reforms.  ====What did Trajan do as Emperor?====Trajan successfully overhauled the Great and Julius Caesar<ref> Csassius Dioadministration of the Empire and ended abuses by Senators. His domestic policy achievements are impressive, Roman History, book 68, xi</ref>but his main focus was always on military glory. He recruited a large army for abandoned the invasion policy of ParthiaAugustus, the Romans greatest enemyof not seeking to expand the Empire. First<ref>Suetonius, he annexed the Nabatean Kingdom with its famous capital Life of Petra Augustus, xxv</ref> Only Britain was added to secure his flankthe Empire since the death of the first Emperor. The Parthian campaign began Trajan was determined to expand Rome’s borders, and for the first time in 105/106 AD and it took place at a time when that Empire had been weakened by a series century, he pursued an active policy of civil warsconquest. Despite this the Parthians defended their territories fiercely. They even placed a puppet on the throne  In modern Romania, a powerful confederation of Armenia in 110 AD<ref>BennetThracian tribes, p 101</ref>. Trajan launched the Dacians had proven a ferocious counter-attack formidable foe and recaptured Armenia had defeated Roman governors in the past. Trajan after careful preparations invaded Dacia and later conquered Northern Mesopotamia (modern North Iraq) and organized it into a province. He built a road to link in 101-102 reduced the province Dacian kingdom to the rest status of a vassal. However, in 105 the Empire Dacians revolted, and this allowed his legions to strike deep into Trajan invaded the heart area and in a series of bloody campaigns ended the Parthian Empire. In 115 he marched his army down the Tigris River and he swiftly captured revolt with the capture of the Parthian summer capital of Ctesiphon and advanced down Sarmizegethusa (106 AD). Dacian resistance was ended with the Tigris to suicide of their king and chief priest, Decalbus. Trajan organized the Persian Gulf<ref>Cassius Diokingdom into a Roman Province, 68, 17</ref>. He annexed and he encouraged settlers from all over the entire area of modern Iraq and incorporated it into Empire to settle in the Empirenew territory. An anecdote is told that when Trajan saw the Persian Gulf he wept because he was too old to conquer the rest of the known world<ref> Schmitz, Michael The Dacian Threat, 101–106 AD. In 116Armidale, Australia: Caeros Pty, while in Antioch2005), p 134</ref> Trajan was a restless figure, the Emperor nearly died in an earthquake and a series he seems to have sought to emulate the achievements of revolts broke out across Alexander the Roman territories in the eastGreat and Julius Caesar.<ref>Cassius Dio, 10Roman History, book 68, 19xi</ref>. A serious Jewish revolt broke out in several areas  He recruited a large army for the invasion of Parthia, the eastern MediterraneanRomans greatest enemy. Trajan was ill and old and decided First, he annexed the Nabatean Kingdom with its famous capital of Petra to journey back to Rome, but he died secure his flank. The Parthian campaign began in 116 105/106 AD, in Asia Minor. The Emperor had no children and adopted Hadrian an experienced soldier and governorit took place at a time when that Empire had been weakened by a series of civil wars. After Trajan’s death Hadrian became ruler of Despite its problems, the Roman World. [[File: Trajan FourParthians defended their territories fiercely.jpg|200px|thumb|left| Petra They even placed a puppet on the capital throne of the Nabatean KingdomArmenia in 110 AD.<ref>Bennet, today]] p 101</ref>  ==Dacia==The conquest of Dacia, which was Trajan launched a powerful military force in the Balkans ferocious counter-attack and recaptured Armenia and later conquered Northern Mesopotamia (modern North Iraq) and organized it into a real rival of Rome in the Balkans was a significant achievmentprovince. The Dacians has been He built a problem for road to link the Romans since province to the time rest of Julius Caesar. However no Roman Emperor had been effectively able the Empire, and this allowed his legions to contain themstrike deep into the heart of the Parthian Empire. The conquest of Trajan from a military point of view was remarkable as In 115 he marched his army down the Tigris River, and he swiftly captured the kingdom consisted Parthian summer capital of fortified settlements in a mountainous regionCtesiphon and advanced down the Tigris to the Persian Gulf.<ref>Cassius Dio, 1068, 2317</ref>. It has often been argued that Domitian helped to weaken  He annexed the Dacians before entire area of modern Iraq and incorporated it into the conquest in 106 ADEmpire. The addition of An anecdote is told that when Trajan saw the Persian Gulf, he wept because he was too old Dacian kingdom to conquer the Empirerest of the known world. In 116, while in Antioch, initially strengthened Rome. The gold mines of the area boosted the economy as did the new lands that were acquired. The annexation Emperor nearly died in an earthquake and a series of revolts broke out across the kingdom strengthened Roman territories in the Danube frontier and secured the Balkans for decadeseast. However<ref>Cassius Dio, 10, many argue that the conquest 19</ref> A severe Jewish revolt broke out in several areas of Dacia was ultimately a drain on the Empireeastern Mediterranean. Moreover, over time as the Roman legions weakened it proved difficult Trajan was ill and old and decided to journey back to defend. In the crisis of the 3rd century the province was abandoned Rome, but he died in 116 AD, in Asia Minor. to the Goths The Emperor had no children and other tribes<ref>Bennet, p 189</ref>adopted Hadrian an experienced soldier and governor. HoweverAfter Trajan’s death, Hadrian became ruler of the territory had remained part Roman World. ====Why did Trajan want Rome to conquer Dacia?====The conquest of the Empire for 150 years and at least Dacia, a powerful military force in the first century of Roman rule it brought the empire new revenues Balkans and was a bulwark against barbarian incursionsreal rival of Rome, was a significant achievement. [[File: Trajan Two.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A relief showing a battle between The Dacians had been a problem for the Romans and Dacians]]==Parthia and since the East==There time of Julius Caesar. However, no Roman Emperor had been no serious efforts effectively able to conquer large areas contain them. The conquest of Trajan from a military point of view was remarkable as the Parthian Empire since the time kingdom consisted of Mark Anthonyfortified settlements in a mountainous region. Trajan wanted to conquer all or at least part of the Empire. However<ref>Cassius Dio, it was a vast10, sprawling and diverse polity and 23</ref> It has often been argued that Domitian helped to weaken the Dacians before the Romans could never have absorbed it even with their vast resources and capabilitiesconquest in 106 AD. Trajan had been accused of megalomania because The addition of his ambitions in the east. Despite his capture of Ctesiphon and old Dacian kingdom to the annexation Empire initially strengthened Rome. The gold mines of the western sections of area boosted the Parthian Empire economy as did the Romans never really controlled the majority of the new territoriesnew lands that were acquired.  The campaign in annexation of the East overstrained kingdom strengthened the resources of the RomansDanube frontier and secured the Balkans for decades. It left However, many argue that the legions in Mesopotamia isolated and they were on the point conquest of being cut-off when Trajan diedDacia was ultimately a drain on the Empire. FurthermoreMoreover, over time as the efforts in Parthia left many areas poorly guarded and this was a factor in Roman legions weakened it proved difficult to defend. In the Jewish Revolts that destabilized crisis of the eastern provinces. This threatened Roman control in 3rd century, the province was abandoned to the areaGoths and other tribes. It cannot be denied that Trajan’s campaign weakened <ref>Bennet, p 189</ref> However, the territory had remained part of the Empire for 150 years and at least in the east. This forced Hadrian to evacuate first century of Roman rule it brought the newly conquered lands to retrieve the situation empire new revenues and he is credited with effectively staving off was a collapse in the east. However, Trajan achievements in the east were not transitory. In the longer term some of the conquests of the Emperor strengthened the bulwark against barbarian incursions. <dh-ad/> ==== Why did Trajan's invasion of Parthian Empire almost fail?====There had been no serious efforts to conquer large areas of the Parthian Empire since the time of Mark Anthony. Trajan wanted to conquer all or at least part of the Empire. However, it was a vast, sprawling and diverse polity and the Romans could never have absorbed it even with their vast resources and capabilities. Trajan had been accused of megalomania because of his ambitions in the east. Despite his capture of Ctesiphon and the annexation of the western sections of the Parthian Empire, the Romans never really controlled the majority of the new territories. The campaign in the East overstrained the resources of the Romans. It left the legions in Mesopotamia isolated, and they were on the point of being cut-off when Trajan died.  Furthermore, the efforts in Parthia left many areas poorly guarded which led to Jewish revolts that destabilized the eastern provinces. Roman did not have any meaningful control over this region. Trajan’s campaign fundamentally weakened the Empire in the east. Hadrian was forced to conquer these lands to stave off a complete collapse in the east.  In the longer term, some of the conquests of the Emperor strengthened the Roman East. The conqueror of Dacia added two provinces in the east the Nabatean Kingdom (modern Jordan) and northern Mesopotamia (Northern Iraq). These provinces greatly added to the revenues of the Empire and also strengthened the Roman strategic position in the region. The province of Mesopotamia meant that Rome could keep Parthia on the defensive. Roman supremacy was not challenged for over a century in the Ancient Near East.  

 ====How did Trajan change the domestic policies of Rome?==Domestic Policy==The Roman Empire was at its zenith during the reign of Trajan. However, he like the members of the Senate was worried about the relative decline of Italy. It had not prospered as much as the other Imperial territories. The population of Italy was falling, and many were worried about the reduced number of Italians who were serving in the legions.<ref> Alston, Richard Aspects of Roman History 31BC-AD117 (Abingdon: , Routledge, 2014), p. 115</ref>.  Trajan used much of the booty from his conquests on public works in the Italian cities such as Rome. This was to boost the urban economies and to encourage the landed aristocracy to spend more time in cities. Trajan also ordered Senators from the provinces, to own land in Italy. This was to ensure ensured that the Senatorial elite, irrespective of their origin had links with Rome and Italy. Trajan also introduced the alimieta, this was a charitable scheme , and it was a variety of subsidies to local communities.<ref>Alston, p . 118</ref>. It involved the regular distribution of money to only the public but only to Italian communities. It also seems that it helped to improve the lot lives of poor Italians , and infanticide was much the alimieta even reduced because the number of the payment instances of the alimieta There are those who believe that infanticide.  Trajan developed this policy to strengthen Italy, and therefore the core of the Empire. This was to ensure ensured that Italians remained preeminent in the Roman Empire. The Emperor’s policy was at least partially successful, because it arrested the decline in Italy and it was adopted by later Emperors.<ref>Bennet, p 119</ref>. Trajan has been criticized for his many wars and especially for his devaluation of the coinage. This it is believed set a dangerous precedent for later Emperors however, Trajan left his successor Hadrian with a healthy treasury and the economy was well-managed during his reign. The conqueror of the Dacians  Trajan was an able administrator and unlike his predecessors respected the constitution and the laws of Rome. Trajan enacted some laws that improved the status of slaves and it became illegal for masters to abandon old slaves. He forbade the use of informers , and there were no treason trials during his years in power. Trajan did not rule as an autocrat like so many of his predecessors .<ref>Pliny the Younger, Letter 10. 68</ref>. It has been stated that he gave the Empire its longest period of stability and good government in its history. <ref>Bennet, p. 10</ref> ====Was Trajan a Good Emperor?==Conclusion==The Emperor Trajan has been acclaimed as a great Emperor but he was also as an egomaniac who loved war and who . Ultimately his actions seriously undermined the Empire. The truth is that Trajan had many achievements but also some glaring failures. His conquest expanded the Empire and generated new revenues for Rome and improved its strategic position with regard to its enemies.  However, his adventures in Parthia were costly and could have ended in disaster and most . Most of them had to be relinquished by the Emperor his gains were lost during Hadrian's reign. Trajan’s domestic policy had some successes such as his efforts to strengthen Italy and his reform of the penal code with regard to concerning slaves. His administration of the Empire was excellent, and the economy thrived under him. Trajan can be regarded as a great Emperor and justifies the acclaim that he received from his fellow Romans in the centuries after his death.  ====Suggested Reading====

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