Changes

The Roman Empire was at its zenith during the reign of Trajan. However, he like the members of the Senate was worried about the relative decline of Italy. It had not prospered as much as the other Imperial territories. The population of Italy was falling, and many were worried about the reduced number of Italians who were serving in the legions<ref>Alston, Richard Aspects of Roman History 31BC-AD117 (Abingdon, Routledge, 2014),p. 115</ref/>. Trajan used much of the booty from his conquests on public works in the Italian cities such as Rome. This was to boost the urban economies and to encourage the landed aristocracy to spend more time in cities. Trajan also ordered Senators from the provinces, to own land in Italy. This was to ensure that the Senatorial elite, irrespective of their origin had links with Rome and Italy. Trajan also introduced the alimieta, this was a charitable scheme and it was a variety of subsidies to local communities<ref>Alston, p 118</ref>. It involved the regular distribution of money to the public but only to Italian communities. It also seems that it helped to improve the lot of poor Italians and infanticide was much reduced because of the payment of the alimieta There are those who believe that Trajan developed this policy to strengthen Italy, and therefore the core of the Empire. This was to ensure that Italians remained preeminent in the Roman Empire. The Emperor’s policy was at least partially successful, because it arrested the decline in Italy and it was adopted by later Emperors<ref>Bennet, p 119</ref>. Trajan has been criticized for his many wars and especially for his devaluation of the coinage. This it is believed set a dangerous precedent for later Emperors however, Trajan left his successor Hadrian with a healthy treasury and the economy was well-managed during his reign. The conqueror of the Dacians was an able administrator and unlike his predecessors respected the constitution and the laws of Rome. Trajan enacted some laws that improved the status of slaves and it became illegal for masters to abandon old slaves. He forbade the use of informers and there were no treason trials during his years in power. Trajan did not rule as an autocrat like so many of his predecessors <ref>Pliny the Younger, Letter 10. 68</ref>. It has been stated that he gave the Empire its longest period of stability and good government in its history<ref>Bennet, p. 10</ref>.