{"id":9584,"date":"2023-12-02T12:15:10","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T11:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9584"},"modified":"2023-12-02T12:15:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-02T11:15:10","slug":"where-was-capua-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/where-was-capua-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Was Capua In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Capua is one of the most famous and iconic cities in the ancient Roman Empire. Located in the Campania region in Southern Italy, it is the second largest city in Italy behind Rome, and offers some of the most spectacular archaeological and historical sites in the world. Capua played an important role during the Roman period, both as a strategic military stronghold as well as an agricultural and commercial hub. During the social war, Capua allied itself with Rome against the Samnites and became a Roman municipality in the 80s BC.<\/p>\n

The city became an important strategic military center, due to the important roads that crossed there, such as the Appian Way. They were connected to the nearby port of Puteoli, which was used to transport supplies and armaments. Capua’s strategic importance increased in the Second Punic War, when it supported Rome against Carthage. In order to adequately defend the city, a huge system of circular walls was built with four gates, which are still present today.<\/p>\n

In antiquity Capua served as an agricultural and commercial center of Campania. The city was a major producer of grain and wine. It was also an important trading center in the Near East, because the two major roads were the Appian Way and the Via Latina. The ruins of hundreds of ancient market buildings and stores are still visible today. In addition to the local markets, Capua had a wide selection of imported goods from the Roman Empire, including linen and olive oil from Egypt, wine from Sicily and Gaul, and pottery from Hispania.<\/p>\n

The city was also a major cultural center. Performing arts flourished in Capua, and the city was famous for its theatre and gladiatorial spectacles. The most famous Roman playwright, Quintus Ennius, was born in the city, and the Roman philosopher Lucius Aelius Stilo Praeconinus was active there. In the 4th century CE, the city was persecuted by the Visigoths and later, the Saracens, but it remained an important cultural hub until the 10th century.<\/p>\n