Study reveals that the inhabitants
of the Romanized German regions
are still longer-lived,
“flexible” and happier than their fellow countrymen.
Why?
A
study published in the last few hours by Current Research
In
Ecological
and
Social Pcychology
explores
the lasting influence of Roman civilization on the macro-psychological
character of German regions. Macro-psychological characteristics are
produced, in each territory, by what we might define as the collective psyche
of the population. There are, to give an example close to us, general
characteristics of Italians , but also macro-psychological
characteristics of regions and provinces. Up to the collective psyche of cities
and towns. This was what, once, was generically defined as “mentality”. A particular
way of being and perceiving. A Tuscan has one macro-psychology, a
Lombard another, a Campanian yet another, etc.
Saalburg
is an archaeological site that preserves an ancient Roman fort located in
Germany, on the ridge of the Taunus mountains, northwest of Bad Homburg, in
present-day Hesse. This castrum, designed to house a cohort, was part of the
Limes Germanicus-Rhaetian, the line of fortifications that marked the border of
the Roman provinces in Germany. The Limes Germanicus-Rhaetian was a defense
system consisting of forts, auxiliary blockhouses, watchtowers and palisades,
built by the Romans to protect the borders of the provinces of Germania
Superior and Raetia.
The
findings suggest that the ancient Roman border, known as the Limes Germanicus
, continues to influence the differences regional .
Detailed analyses indicate that Roman investments in economic institutions,
such as trade infrastructure, roads, markets, modernized agriculture,
aqueducts, and mines, were crucial in creating this long-term effect.
The
Limes Germanicus – black dotted line – in 200 AD
In
particular, 87% of modern highways in Romanized regions are located near
ancient Roman roads, highlighting the persistence of this communication
network. The Romans – even within an imperialist framework –
significantly multiplied well-being, job opportunities, hygiene, technology,
“team play”, organization, coordinated responses to external threats and
natural upheavals, religious tolerance . The rights and duties of
the citizen were, in an age without laws, established by a precise and detailed
legal corpus. During those centuries, cyclopean works were also undertaken, the
foundations of which remain in the character of the conquered regions. Security
, stability , certainty in identifying objectives, limitation
of chance games endure over time – within the collective memory – and are
transmitted through both culture and economy.
The
bold black line marks the ancient border. In red, the certain Roman roads. The
triangles indicate markets and mines
The
study highlights how ancient cultures may have left a macro-psychological
legacy that contributes to current regional inequalities . Regions that
benefited from Roman investment developed a “collective memory” associated with
the values of the Empire, which is still reflected in the stories, traditions
and attitudes of local communities today. This cultural legacy influenced
behaviors and values, contributing to greater extroversion, openness and life
satisfaction, as well as a lower incidence of “ neuroticism ” - a trait
associated with stress and anxiety.
On
the left, with light colors, the current areas with less " neurotism
". The demarcation between blocks is clear. On the right, with darker
colors, life expectancy. This too tends to be higher in the Romanized area.
Furthermore,
the study highlights that life expectancy in formerly Romanized regions is
significantly higher, with an average of six months more than in non-Romanized
areas. The initial advantages, established during Roman rule, generated a path
dependency ( path dependence ), or a development model that has strengthened
over time. The regions began in a position of economic advantage thanks to
Roman investments, becoming inclined to maintain higher levels of well-being
and growth.
On
the other hand, areas outside of Roman rule faced greater challenges in
achieving this development. This historical disparity may explain some of the
regional differences in economic and psychological indicators in contemporary
Germany. The study
offers a historical perspective on the
deep roots of regional inequalities in health, well-being, and personality
traits, highlighting the importance of considering the legacy of ancient
cultures when analyzing today's socioeconomic dynamics.
The
regions of present-day Germany that became part of the Roman Empire were mainly
those located west of the Rhine River and south of the Danube River. These
included:
1.
Province of Germania
Inferior : included parts of present-day North
Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
2. Province of Germania
Superior : covered areas of present-day
Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.
3. Province of Rhaetia :
including regions of present-day Bavaria and parts of Baden-Württemberg.
The
areas east of the Rhine, known as Germania Magna, were never fully integrated
into the Roman Empire, although the Romans attempted to conquer them several
times, as demonstrated by the famous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD,
where Germanic tribes, led by Arminius, defeated three Roman legions.
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