How did granting Roman citizenship to conquered peoples keep the empire strong?

Answer 1

The granting of Roman citizens to all freeborn males in the empire by the emperor Caracalla with the Edict of Caracalla of 212 did not do anything to make the empire strong. Cassius Dio thought that the purpose of the edict was to expand the tax revenue base of the state. Non-Romans did not have to pay most of the taxes which were levied from Roman citizens. Thus the extension of the citizenship enabled the collection of more taxes. The strength of the empire did not lie on citizenship.

The Romans maintained the stability and strength of their empire by respecting the peoples they conquered. They tolerated their religions and customs and allowed them to continue to follow them. They also allowed them to continue to use their customary laws at the local level, which they called mos regionis (regional traditions or law of the land). They relied on the local ruling elites to run local affairs in the Roman provinces. They saw this policy as providing political and social stability it also limited the job of Roman provincial governors' to defence and the maintenance of the legions stationed in the provinces, tack collection, the commissioning of public works and arbitration of disputes the locals were unable to settle themselves. This policy had two advantages: it reduced the administrative load (and the associated costs) of the provincial governors and it facilitated the integration of the locals into the ideology and the economy of the empire. A less tolerant policy would have led to rebellions and would have threatened the stability of the empire. The development of thriving trading networks throughout the empire and beyond was another source of strength and stability. The provinces had a stake in the prosperity crated by these networks.

Answer 2

Giving citizenship to the tribal peoples of Western Europe gave them a sense of belonging and responsibility to support the Roman Empire. The Eastern Empire Greeks already had citizenship of their city-state and the need was not so urgent, but they became notoriously prone to revolutionary plots as a result. However in the 3rd Century CE, with the incoming nomadic peoples, citizenship was granted to all the inhabitants to unite the Empire against this threat.

Answer 3

Giving citizenship to the tribal peoples of Western Europe gave them a sense of belonging and responsibility to support the Roman Empire. The Eastern Empire Greeks already had citizenship of their city-state and the need was not so urgent, but they became notoriously prone to revolutionary plots as a result. However in the 3rd Century CE, with the incoming nomadic peoples, citizenship was granted to all the inhabitants to unite the Empire against this threat.

Answer 4

The Romans extended Roman citizenship twice. The first time they extended it to their Italian allies who helped them to defend Italy from the invasion buy Hannibal (the Carthaginian general) and to conquer most of the area around the Mediterranean Sea. This followed the Social War, or War of the Allies (90-88 BC). The Italian allies rebelled and waged war against Rome because the Romans had refused to grant them Roman citizenship. This was serious because these allies had the same equipment as the Romans, had fought alongside them and knew their tactics very well. The Romans won the war, but granted Roman citizenship to restore unity. This was important not only because it restored political stability, but also because these allies doubled the military manpower available to Rome.

In 212 AD the emperor Caracalla extended Roman citizenship to all the inhabitants of the Roman Empire; that is, to all the peoples who had been conquered. The Roman Historian Cassius Dio thought that he did so to increase tax revenues. Only Roman citizens paid taxes and extending this citizenship made everyone liable to pay taxes. Caracalla needed more revenues to pay for the increase in pay and bonuses he granted the army.