Nerva-Antonine Dynasty (jan 1, 96 – jan 1, 192)

Description:

Relative peace and prosperity

“Dubbing emperors “good” or “bad” is not something today’s historians generally do, but they view the Nerva-Antonines as able administrators and military leaders. Hadrian (r. 117–138 C.E.) is a typical example. He received a solid education in Rome and became an ardent admirer of Greek culture. He caught the attention of his elder cousin Trajan, the future emperor, who started him on a military career. At age nineteen Hadrian served on the Danube frontier, where he learned the details of how the Roman army lived and fought and saw for himself the problems of defending the frontiers.”

“Hadrian built or completed a number of buildings…He established more formal imperial administrative departments and separated civil service from military service. Men with little talent or taste for the army could instead serve the state as administrators. These innovations made for more efficient running of the empire and increased the authority of the emperor.”

“No longer a conquering force, the army was expected to defend what had already been won. Forts and watch stations guarded the borders. Outside the forts the Romans built a system of roads that allowed the forts to be quickly supplied and reinforced in times of rebellion or unrest.”

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