While ancient Romania (Dacia) was abandoned by the Roman Empire during Aurelian's reign in the 3rd century, the Roman Empire's influence on Dacia remained. Some of its influences were diluted by the appearance of invaders, while others live on as indication of the Roman Empire's presence in the region.
Roman Infrastructure
Rome left an infrastructure of roads and municipalities, though this infrastructure gradually decayed with the influx of invaders who either passed through Dacia on their way to more desirable territory or subjugated the Dacians during their stay. Roman ruins can still be seen and visited in Romania today, like those of the city Porolissum near Zalau, Romania.
Latin Language
The Romans left traces of Latin in the Romanian language, which is, today, considered a Romance language. Some religious terms in the Romanian language exhibit Latin-influenced forms, though the Church in Romania adopted Church Slavonic as an official language when it became the established religious authority.
Christian Religion
When Constantin declared Christianity to be the official religion of the Roman Empire, Dacia was also influenced by this Roman directive. The spread of Christianity probably occurred alongside the establishment of bishoprics along the Danube River, though Christianity was known in Dacia as early as the 2nd and 3rd centuries. It replaced the cult of Zalmoxis as the main religion in Dacia.
Roman Blood
Though the Romans were in Dacia for under two centuries, they settled in the region and intermarried with the local Dacian population. This resulted in people with Roman blood and mixed Roman-Dacian blood. Historians are in dispute over whether or not the indigenous Dacian population was wiped out with Roman conquest of Dacia, but the fact remains that Roman blood was introduced into the region as a result of Rome's colonization of the territory.
Roman Names
While place names in Romania show Slavic influence, the name “Romania” itself is a result of the Roman influence left upon the region.
The mark the Roman Empire left on Dacia is unmistakable. Historians use evidence of this influence to help them determine chronology of specific events (like the introduction of Christianity to Dacia) and to trace the movement of peoples across territories.
Sources:
A Concise History of Romania. Ed. Andrei Otetea and Andrew MacKenzie. London: Robert Hale, 1985. 120-124, 136-137.
Bolovan, Ioan, et. al. A History of Romania. Ed. Kurt W. Treptow. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996. 41-47.
Seton-Watson, R. W. A History of the Roumanians: From Roman Times to the Completion of Unity. N.P.: Archeon Books, 1963. 6-7.
Kerry Kubilius - A graduate of Ohio State University, Kerry has a BA in Russian and a BA in History of Art with a focus on Eastern European art. She also ...
