Like the EU, the Roman Empire encompassed a variety of very different territories, all with laws, traditions and cultural identities of their own. In today’s video, Renske explains that Roman emperors were a lot more flexible in their style of government than people often assume: they left many aspects of life in the provinces intact, and even listened to the wishes of the locals. Still, emperors could also act harshly when they felt they needed to – which means that Roman-led Brexit negotiations may not have become a resounding success after all.

ABOUT LUCAS EXPLAINS

In the video series LUCAS Explains, young researchers tell about current societal and cultural topics from a historical or fresh point of view. The subjects range from diversity to national identity and from inclusiveness to migration. The videos stretch the history from the Classics to the present and from Europe to Asia. LUCAS Explains is published every other Tuesday. LUCAS Explains is a video series of Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society and SOON media Amsterdam.

THANKS TO

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
Leiden University
Rijksmuseum voor Oudheden, the Netherlands
Nozem Audio

CREDITS PICTURES

Map Roman Empire in 117 AD: Wikimedia Commons
Pliny the Younger: Wikimedia Commons
Statue of emperor Trajan: Wikimedia Commons (edited by Renske Janssen)

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