Romanization

Fordongianus, terme di Forum Traiani. Foto da Sardegna DigitalLibrary

The transition of Sardinia from the Carthaginian to the Roman sphere of control was a consequence of the First Punic War (264-241 BC). Unable to satisfy the economic demands of the mercenaries stationed in Sardinia, Carthage was forced in 238 BC to cede control of the island to the Romans.
In 227 BC, Sardinia became a Roman province and its control was entrusted to a governor. From that moment on, the process of Romanization of the island became increasingly intense, even if the Sardinian-Punic cultural matrix will not cease to express its vitality.
The cities of the island were romanized in their structure and in the building system, equipping them with the main buildings that everywhere in the empire marked the Roman cultural model: theaters and amphitheaters (in Nora, in Carales), baths (in Forum Traiani, today's Fordongianus), temples (in Antas near Fluminimaggiore), aqueducts (in Turris Libisonis, today's Porto Torres), urban and rural villas, often equipped with beautiful mosaic floors.
Roman control was based first and foremost on the road network, set up on road routes already traced to which were added bridges and connecting roads between the main routes and those of penetration to facilitate access and therefore the control of internal areas.
The most important road connected Cagliari to Porto Torres and was largely traced to the route of the “Carlo Felice” (today's SS 131).
The agricultural and mining exploitation of Sardinia intensified in Roman times, thanks to the introduction of the large estate. In particular, the extraction of silvery lead in the Sulcis-Iglesiente mines was strengthened.
It is probably here that around 190 a group of Christians was condemned to forced labor, thus contributing to the introduction of Christianity to the island.

Update

23/7/2025 - 17:06