How might the size of the Roman Empire have affected cultural exchange among those who were ruled by the Romans?

Answer 1

The size of the Roman Empire meant that thew number of ethnicities which came under its rule was very large. This made the empire a very multicultural entity.

This mutticulturalism was facilitated by the Romans' policy of tolerance. The Romans tolerated the religions and customs of the conquered peoples. They allowed them to continue to worship their religions, follow their customs and use their customary laws at the local level. They also let the local ruling classes run most of the local affairs. The role of the provincial governors of the provinces (conquered territories) was restricted to defence and maintenance of the legions stationed in the provinces, tax collection, public works and the arbitration of disputes the locals could not resolve by themselves. This policy had two advantages: it reduced the administrative load 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 too many rebellions and would have threatened the stability of the empire.

In 225 BC the emperor Caracalla extended full Roman citizenship to all the male freeborn in the Roman Empire. Thus the conquered peoples acquired Roman citizenship.

Being part of the empire also provided economic benefits and, sometimes, security. The empire developed thriving trading networks which brought prosperity. The Romans encouraged the peoples in the provinces (conquered territories) to increase the production of manufactures agricultural goods for trade. The wealthy and middling class benefitted from this. The exploited poor did not. Throughout their empire the Romans built roads, bridges, and ports to facilitate communication and trade; dams for flood protection or irrigation; sewers and public baths for public health; theatres and amphitheatres for entertainment, and public buildings (basilicas) and other public amenities. The Roman legions stationed in the provinces helped with maintaining order. In the frontier areas they also provided protection from raids from across the border. The troops were also customers for local traders.

This economic integration and the thriving trade fostered cultural interexchange and mullticulturalism.