Back to the full dot-point answer
NSWAncient HistoryQuick questions
Section IV (Historical Periods): The Julio-Claudians AD 14 to 69
Quick questions on Julio-Claudian administration (HSC Ancient History Section IV)
14short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is senatorial provinces?Show answer
Governed by ex-consuls or ex-praetors appointed by the Senate. Mainly pacified provinces (Italy itself was not a province). Examples: Greece, Asia, Africa.
What is imperial provinces?Show answer
Governed by the Emperor's legates (legati). Mainly frontier provinces where legions were stationed. Examples: Germany, Syria, Egypt (a special case under an equestrian prefect because of its grain importance).
What is legion?Show answer
Approximately 5,500 men, 10 cohorts. Recruited from Roman citizens (after AD 14 increasingly from provincials). Commanded by a senatorial legate.
What is auxiliaries?Show answer
Non-citizen units (typically 500 strong). Specialised troops: archers, light infantry, cavalry. Granted citizenship after service (usually 25 years).
What is distribution?Show answer
Heavy concentration on the Rhine and Danube (8-10 legions each); 4 on the Euphrates; smaller forces in Spain, Britain (after AD 43), and Egypt.
What is loyalty?Show answer
The army's loyalty was personal to the Princeps. Donatives at imperial accession were standard. The Year of Four Emperors (AD 68-69) demonstrated the political weight of provincial armies.
What is size?Show answer
9 (later 10) cohorts of 500 (later 1,000) men each. So 4,500 to 10,000 men in Rome.
What is political role?Show answer
The Praetorians acclaimed Claudius (after Caligula's assassination, AD 41) and Otho (after Galba's murder, AD 69). They were the only armed force in Rome.
What is donatives?Show answer
Each new emperor paid the Praetorians a substantial sum. Galba's refusal to pay (AD 68-69) was a critical political mistake.
What is aerarium Saturni?Show answer
The traditional state treasury, controlled by the Senate. Funded senatorial provinces and traditional Republican functions.
What is fiscus?Show answer
The imperial treasury, controlled by the Princeps. Funded imperial provinces, the army, the household.
What is aerarium Militare?Show answer
Special military treasury (founded AD 6) for veterans' pensions and donatives.
What is revenue sources?Show answer
Imperial estates, mines, customs duties, inheritance tax (5 percent), and tribute from provinces.
What is imperial spending?Show answer
Army salaries (the largest expense), public buildings, donatives, grain dole (cura annonae).