Changes

On the domestic side, Trajan was a dynamic administrator, and he did much to reverse some of the abuses that had developed under previous Emperors such as Domitian. Additionally, his domestic policies helped to improve the socio-economic condition in Italy. While Rome benefitted from many of his conquests and policies, Parthia's invasion almost led to disaster, and his gains were short-lived. After Trajan's death, Hadrian was forced to abandon Parthia.

[[File: Trajan Two.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A relief showing a battle between Romans and Dacians]]

Trajan’s reign (98-117 AD) occurred at perhaps 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 to expand. The period witnessed a cultural renaissance, and many of the great Latin writers wrote their greatest works. Successive Emperors maintained the system that was perfected by Augustus, which was an imperial system that shared power with the Senatorial elite. This system had provided stability to a large part of Europe and the Near East. Marcus Ulpius Traianus was born in what is now modern Spain and was of Italian descent.<ref> Bennett, Julian. Trajan. Optimus Princeps. (Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 2001), p. 18</ref>