Argumentative Essay: Trajan Was a Good Emperor for Rome

Trajan showed his success within his own generosity towards his citizens,  his military campaigns with the Dacians and Parthaninas as well as his building projects. Trajan was elected to the empire by Nerva, the previous emperor, giving him power. He had disagreements with the Dacians, and Parthians, making him go to war. He changed the city by adding new structures. He gave many poor citizens money and care. Trajan was a good of Rome because of his military campaigns, generosity towards citizens of Rome, and architectural impacts on Rome. 

Trajan's military campaigns consisted of conquering both the Dacians, the Parthaninas and establishing a civilization there. On his first campaign Trajan brought military legions to help take out the Samaritans which was a key military group for the Dacians. On top of this his legions destroyed major trade routes for the Dacians. Both factors hurt the Dacians allowing for Trajan to attack the capital. After seizing the capital Trajan went back to create 12 more legions. This reset allowed them to attack again with a fire breaking out in the city making it easy for Trajan. With control of Dacia he established a palace and brought the population to over one million. Soon after taking Dacia Trajan had disagreements between another gouvernment, the Parthanian gouvernment. Trajan led his legions, and military into Mesopotamia taking it over as far as the Gulf of Arabia (Sizgorich; Wasson). These factors showed Trajan's military dominance and success through his reign by taking over Dacia, and the Parthanians.  Another part of Trjans success was with his generosity towards the citizens of Rome, and making an equal environment. 

Trajan's generosity towards Roman citizens helped the poor, increased population, and made life for an average Roman citizen better. Trajan gave the poor more wheat and cash gifts from the war. He reduced taxes, and allowed provinces to keep gold that would normally end in the hands of the gouvernment. He cared for the poor, the sick, and young children by expanding public funds for things like healthcare and business. He made sure to elevate many politicians, and poorer people with jobs. This work he had done for Rome brought him attention from many authors, and journalists. One writer in particular named Pliny had summed up his reign in many letters by saying “May the world through your means, enjoy every prosperity of your reign.” Trajan respected Pliny's work on his life, and he emulated Trajan in a way (Rattini; Wasson). His respect towards citizens of all kinds no matter the situation they are in showed his kindness and why he rose to be one of the five great emperors of Rome. Along with his generosity towards Rome he had many architectural designs in Rome like his great column. 

Trajan's Architectural impacts consisted of building a great column to tell the stories of his life, and many other structures within Rome itself. Trajan hired an engineer to help him build many of the buildings he made who also helped with the column. The column was a 126ft tower with pictures going up it explaining the events in the Dacian war. The pictures showed his dominance by explaining the events of capturing many Dacian prisoners. The column not only had an immense impact on Trajan’s reign but was a significant impact on many designs in the future for Roman architecture. Many writers at the time like Fillipo Coarelli admired the greatness of the column by writing “the column is an amazing work (Rattenni, Carlsberg).” Along with his column he took the majority of his Gold from the Dacian wars to use to make new roads, aqueducts, and bridges all around Rome. He made more civic places, plazas, and political buildings throughout Rome, along with increasing water supply. His building projects like the column as well as more buildings show his greatness by expanding Rome, and being influential to further emperors.       

Trajan was a good emperor for Rome because of his success in wars, generosity towards Romans, and architectural successes. By conquering the Dacians and the Parthians allowing him to establish a palace there showed his military success. With his giving money and respect to the poor, and young kids he showed his kindness, and generosity. Also by him hiring an engineer to help him build his great column as well as many designs like bridges and aqueducts showed his articetual mind. Overall these reasons show why he was a good emperor, and why he rose to be the one of the five greatest emperors of Rome.