UDC

94(430).01

Authors

Maksim V. Domskiy
National Research University Higher School of Economics
38 Studencheskaya St., Perm, 614070, Russian Federation;
e-mail: heliand@yandex.ru

Abstract

The paper examines how the expanding Roman Empire shaped the political life of tribal communities in Germania in the 1st century AD. It focuses primarily on the time span between Rome’s subjugation of Germanic tribes on both sides of the Rhine and the creation of the provinces Germania Inferior and Germania Superior (i.e., primarily the 1st century AD). The creation of provincial administration, military prefecture and the development of magistracies are considered among the most likely scenarios leading to the growth of Roman or Roman-style institutions in Germania. In addition, the possibility of creating a loosely controlled border area and semi-independent client states on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire is discussed. No clear or exact conclusions about how and when Roman governmental structures were established in Germania Romana can be drawn with regard to the state of the ancient source material. Thus, much additional investigation is required. The most important expectations concern further excavations in the Rhine region as well as publication of all results of recent excavations. However, regardless of the difficulties mentioned above, an analysis of literary, epigraphic and archaeological sources shows that the process of political change in Germania implied neither uniformity nor synchronism and that the ways to transform political life on the barbarian periphery were numerous. According to the sources available, these ways were rather intricate and varied from a complete assimilation of Germanic communities to no more than superficial political subjugation of client states neighbouring the empire.

Keywords

Germania, Germania Inferior, Civitas Batavorum, provincialization, municipalization, client states

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