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Provinces of the Roman Empire

By N.S. Gill, About.com

Question: Provinces of the Roman Empire

What were the provinces of the Roman Empire?

Answer: Roman provinces (Lat. proviniciae) were administrative and territorial units of the Roman Empire. Governors of provinces were often former consuls. Former praetors could also serve as governor. In some places (like Judaea) prefects were appointed governor. The provinces provided a source of income for the governor and resources for Rome.

The following are the provinces at the time of Actium (31 B.C.) with the dates (B.C.) they were established:

  1. Sardinia and Corsica (227)
  2. Hispania Citerior (205)
  3. Hispania Ulterior (205)
  4. Illyricum (167)
  5. Macedonia (146)
  6. Africa (146)
  7. Asia (133)
  8. Achaia (146)
  9. Gallia Citerior (80)
  10. Gallia Narbonensis (118)
  11. Cilicia (63), Syria (64)
  12. Bithynia and Pontus (63)
  13. Cyprus (55)
  14. Cyrenaica and Crete (63)
  15. Numidia (46)
  16. Mauritania (46)
The following provinces were added under the emperors
  1. Rhaetia
  2. Noricum
  3. Pannonia
  4. Moesia
  5. Dacia
  6. Britannia
  7. Aegyptus
  8. Cappadocia
  9. Galatia
  10. Rhodus
  11. Lycia
  12. Judaea
  13. Arabia
  14. Mesopotamia
  15. Armenia
  16. Assyria
Source: Pennell - Roman Roads and Provinces

See: Rome: Map of the Empire

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