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Rome
Why did territories conquered by Rome remain loyal to Rome?
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They didn't always - cf the Iceni revolt under Boudicca, but they did tend to.
1. The territories had been conquered. Their army had been defeated, usually with the loss of a significant portion of their young men. Probably a proportion of the population had been enslaved. Their rulers had either been killed, deposed or left in place with a generous pension guaranteed by the Romans. The political will to revolt was therefore significantly weakened.
2. What did the Romans ever do for us? Despite all the downside the Pax Romana was exactly that, Peace. The Romans guaranteed the sort of stability (at a cost; taxation, tribute) which few other regimes could match. The economy generally improved. There were roads, bathhouses and the opportunity to engage in commerce on a scale most people could only dream about before the Romans came. The 'middle classes' usually did well out of Roman rule and another potential nucleus of political dissent was removed.
3. The Romans generally achieved their territorial gains by crushing military power; the legions. Legionary pay was nothing to write home about. Life was tough and living long enough to collect your pension very doubtful. The pension was usually paid in land, however, something the average Roman could never afford in Italy. The land was granted in the conquered territories and Rome therefore gained super-loyal citizens in the farthest-flung corners of its empire. As ex-legionaries they also constituted an experienced militia.
4. When a territory did revolt Rome tended to make an example of it which the rest of the Empire wasn't slow to recognise.( Back to the Boudicca revolt.)
1. The territories had been conquered. Their army had been defeated, usually with the loss of a significant portion of their young men. Probably a proportion of the population had been enslaved. Their rulers had either been killed, deposed or left in place with a generous pension guaranteed by the Romans. The political will to revolt was therefore significantly weakened.
2. What did the Romans ever do for us? Despite all the downside the Pax Romana was exactly that, Peace. The Romans guaranteed the sort of stability (at a cost; taxation, tribute) which few other regimes could match. The economy generally improved. There were roads, bathhouses and the opportunity to engage in commerce on a scale most people could only dream about before the Romans came. The 'middle classes' usually did well out of Roman rule and another potential nucleus of political dissent was removed.
3. The Romans generally achieved their territorial gains by crushing military power; the legions. Legionary pay was nothing to write home about. Life was tough and living long enough to collect your pension very doubtful. The pension was usually paid in land, however, something the average Roman could never afford in Italy. The land was granted in the conquered territories and Rome therefore gained super-loyal citizens in the farthest-flung corners of its empire. As ex-legionaries they also constituted an experienced militia.
4. When a territory did revolt Rome tended to make an example of it which the rest of the Empire wasn't slow to recognise.( Back to the Boudicca revolt.)
In addition to the consummate answer above, once the locals were quashed as it were, they were generally �sold� the idea of Rome and civil life - never before had such an expansive organised and progressive hold been placed upon them. OK, they created some enemies, but not only did they bring roads, trade and order, they also bought games and tournaments and the ideology that there was someone right at the top of the tree (a demigod - Emperor) who was the head-jobby - that would have been awe-inspiring, especially if they were convinced of the Imperial cult.
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