Claudius Question (1 Viewer)

[HUNT]

Just wanted to know, if Claudius made any important contributions to the infastructure of Rome? Text books didn't say anything (which may be answering my question) but i just wanted to know for sure. Thanks for any replies

 

[Harimau]

He basically created and formalised the Imperial Service, which was to consist of freedmen and equites. This was a critical step which took the reliance of government from the Senate and into the Princep's control. Or more so, anyway... This was how many freedmen gained power, through Imperial Service. Examples include Polio, Pallas, etc etc. They all held posts under Claudius...

Its been a year or so since i've done this, so forgive me if it is not too detailed.

 

[HUNT]

thanx.........., so basically his main contribution to the Roman Empire was not in the form of architecture and great buildings , but was in his role of handing over more power to the equite and freemen, etc. ...thanx

 

[stressed monkie]

personally when we studied claudius last yr i thought he as a bumbling idiot who got it on with his neice and all he really wanted was the title and a hot wife and i believe that he handed power over cause he couldnt handle it anywayz thats what our teacher basically told us lolz

 

[Plebeian]

He wasn't really just a bumbling idiot, despite his physical disabilities... the creation of the civil service was necessary to handle the increasing expansion of the Empire.

In terms of infrastructure, he did have some major building plans:

-2 huge aqueducts to supply water to Rome
-a canal draining the Fucine marshes to reclaim agricultural land
-New port works at Ostia including a lighthouse, warehouses and a massive breakwater + dredging the mouth of the Tiber
-improving roads (but mainly in Gaul and Syria not Rome).