By place Roman Empire •
January 1 – Emperor
Nerva suffers a
stroke during a private audience. •
January 27 – Nerva dies of a
fever at his
villa in the
Gardens of Sallust and is succeeded by his
adopted son
Trajan. Trajan is the first
Roman Emperor born in
Italica, near
Seville. A brilliant soldier and administrator, he enters
Rome without ceremony and wins over the public. Continuing the policies of
Augustus,
Vespasian and Nerva, he restores the
Senate to its full status in the government and begins a form of state
welfare aimed at assuring that poor children are fed and taken care of. He has a specific vision of the
Empire, which reaches its maximum extent under his rule, and keeps a close watch on finances.
Taxes, without any increase, are sufficient during his reign to pay the considerable costs of the budget. The
informers used by
Domitian to support his
tyranny are expelled from Rome. In order to maintain the
Port of
Alexandria, Trajan reopens the canal between the
Nile and the
Red Sea. • Trajan elevates
Ladenburg to city status (
civitas).
By topic Arts and sciences •
Tacitus finishes his
Germania (approximate date).
Commerce • The
silver content of the Roman
denarius rises to 93 percent under emperor Trajan, up from 92 percent under Domitian. == Deaths ==