Roman Hispania: Conquest, Society, and Legacy

Roman Conquest of Hispania

The Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, known as Hispania, unfolded in three significant phases:

• 218 BC – 197 BC: During the Second Punic War, Rome gained control over all coastal territories of the Iberian Peninsula, stretching from the Pyrenees to the south of modern-day Portugal.
• From 150 BC: Rome extended its dominion inland, subjugating the Celtiberian peoples in the peninsula's interior.
• 29 BC – 19 BC: The final phase saw the subjugation of the Asturian and Cantabrian tribes, completing Rome's conquest of the peninsula.

Roman Provincial Administration

During the Roman era, the territory of Hispania was divided into different provinces to ensure better control and management. Each province, in turn, was subdivided into conventus iuridici from the first century AD. The civitates (cities) served as the final link in the Roman administrative structure.

Society and Romanization of Hispania

The process of Romanization in Hispania led to a gradual transformation of its inhabitants. This resulted in a tiered, pyramid-shaped hierarchy of legal statuses:

• People who enjoyed Roman citizenship.
• People who did not have citizenship (known as peregrini or pilgrims).

From the year 212 AD, Roman citizenship was granted to all free inhabitants of the Empire, significantly altering the social landscape of Hispania.

Economic Prosperity in Roman Hispania

Cities were the primary organizing centers of the Roman economy in Hispania. A key factor contributing to economic development and facilitating freight traffic and communication was the extensive communications network created by Rome. This infrastructure was fundamental to Hispania's economic growth and integration into the wider Roman world.

Cultural Legacy of Roman Hispania

Rome's most enduring legacy in Hispania lies within the field of culture. The triumph of Latin as the common language of Hispania was not immediate but gradually took hold. In the religious sphere, the Romanization of Hispania did not involve the forceful imposition of Roman religion, as the Empire generally exhibited great tolerance towards diverse faiths. The cult of the deified emperor, however, served as a unifying religious nexus across the Empire.

Roman cities featured a distinctive urban organization, often based on a checkerboard or orthogonal plan. Major cities boasted a variety of public buildings, including:

• Theaters
• Amphitheaters
• Baths
• Gymnasiums
• Forums
• Temples

The supply and sanitation of these cities necessitated impressive feats of engineering, showcasing Roman ingenuity.

The Crisis of the Third Century

Rome's economic prosperity had been largely founded on a system of military conquests. From the third century AD, however, the Empire reached its practical limits of expansion. Without further conquests to fuel its economy, Rome's vast military machine became an increasingly expensive burden, contributing to the widespread crisis of the third century.