ABSTRACT
The Roman period in its history was relatively short and to a large extent on balance it was benign in its effects, but the Syrians largely disdained full participation in the empire's life; they exported rather more, socially and economically, than they imported. The name 'Syria' is an abbreviation of 'Assyria', used by the Greeks of the Archaic Age when the Assyrian Empire ruled the region. Syria was one of the last provinces added to the Roman Republic's empire. A more direct Roman influence in north Syria came with the stationing there of several legions. Syria was to be one of the most prolific recruiting areas for the Roman army, helped by the fact that the client kingdoms had their own armies which were incorporated wholesale into Rome's forces when the kingdoms were enfolded into the Roman province. The presence of the soldiers in Syria meant that increasing numbers of Syrians would inevitably acquire Roman citizenship.
