askhistorians

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I am a non Roman citizen in the year 50 a.d in the Roman empire. What's to prevent me from claiming that I'm a Roman citizen? What kind of proof would people ask for? If I was to go to a different city will they just take my word for it?	2493
In his work, "Germania", paragraph 12, Tactius describes how German tribes punish certain crimes. He says" ... those who disgrace their bodies are drowned in miry swamps under a cover of wicker." What does he mean by disgrace their bodies?	39
There is a passage in Livy book 7 that something like a sinkhole appeared in the middle of the Forum. Is there any evidence that something like this actually happened?	23
Did the Trojan War really happen?	19
The wife of Marcus Aurelius, Faustina had the title of "mater castrorum" (mother of the camps). What was the significance of holding this title? What rights and privileges did it bestow?	18
Do modern historians still use terms such as "Celtic culture"?	18
What makes an Empire, an Empire? Why is a political unit designated as an Empire versus just a large Kingdom?	11
In book 6, section 4 of Livy's History of Rome he says " a substructure of squared stones was built beneath the Capitol during this year, even amidst the present magnificence of the city, is a conspicuous object." But he does not explain what this building is. Do we know what he's talking about?	7
In the year 409 AD, a confederation of "barbarian" tribes crossed over the pyrenes into the province of Hispania. I've seen estimates of about 200,000 people total crossed over, but are there any estimates on how many of them were warriors, or men of fighting age?	6
Since ancient sources are notorious for their exaggeration. Does the archeological record back up Julius Caesar's account of the battle of Alesia?	4

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