409 / 530
408
As a result, the economy of the Roman Empire was in decline, but its military
force adapted to new forms of fight imposed by the barbarian world based mainly
on cavalry. This could provide during the fourth century, a largely control over all
barbarian tribes around the pacified borders by granting subsidies in cash or, on the
contrary, in nature for subsistence.
Ancient Banat
maintains a special structure – in my opinion – by the fact
that the east side inhabited by Dacian-Romans, Dacians (settlements from Grădinari,
Mehadia, Jabăr etc.), Roman late habitat is marked by monetary discoveries that
suggests an exchange based economy. We refer mainly to settlements that continue
from the previous era (see the similar situation from Tibiscum, Mehadia, even after
new researches those from Teregova). On Mureş, a similar situation was found in
the settlement of Arad–Ceala and others surrounding them. Economic contacts
with the Romans observed through the artifacts, ceramic goods of common use,
alongside a massive penetration of bronze coin as the main exchange currency etc.
Massive discoveries of large treasures with hundred parts in composition,
such as those from Moldova Veche, Moldova Nouă, Măceşti, Pojejena, Radimna,
Dalboşeţ, Dierna (2) Tibiscum (1) etc. found in western Banat impress in number.
They may be the result of robbery attacks undertaken south of the Danube, but
mostly we suppose to believe that they represent trade payment or military service
payment in the Roman army or subsidies granted by the Romans (?). In fact, any of
these assumptions is plausible.
In
plain Banat
, the territory found in front
of Moesia Prima province the
situation appears slightly different. The place was inhabited by local ellements: free
Dacians, Celts, Noric-Pannonians, and from the last decades of the 3
rd
century, the
Sarmath Yaziges came from the plane between Tisza and Danube. Researches are
few so far, but with the help of monetary discoveries two aspects of the problem
are evidentiated, namely, the Roman coin presence is rich near the Danube,
concentrated around
Vârşeţ
,
Pancevo
,
Bela Crkva
, territory found in front of the
capital city of
Viminacium
and the urban centre from
Singidunum
,
logical and true
assesment historically speaking. The presence of numerous bronze coins found
isolated and dating in the 4
th
century, alongside treasures and deposits from the
same period, are a clear indicator of permanent economic relations. But, at approx.
50 km north of Danube line, the number of items reduces, and after another 100 km,
they appear only rare, and cannot be integrated within certain settlements. As such,
in this case, the presence of Roman coin appears sporadic and therefore we need to
see here another important aspect of economic relations with the Empire, the fact
that the contacts are rare.
The involvement of settlements found in Mureş vicinity in these contacts is
determined by direct access from Tisza on Mureş, to the interior of Carpathians.
Unfortunately we lack researches on numismatic finds from Micia that could elucidate
many things about the ancient northern Banat. In this system we integrate the
Empire relationships with the north Danube area that the Constantinian emperors
protected and mastered effectively from an obvious reason probably, a nature tribute
pay made by local communities, with some resources for ancient Banat, primarily