ed,
and Judaea became a province under an imperial legate. The political
community of the Jews was dissolved and they were subjugated to a yearly
head-tax of two denarii (40 cents) each, payable to the temple of Jupiter
Capitolinus, in consideration of which they enjoyed their previous
immunities. The victory of Titus was commemorated by the arch which still
stands near the Roman forum.

*The frontiers.* The disorders of the recent wars rendered it necessary
for Vespasian to reorganize many branches of the administration, a task
which won for him the name of the second founder of the principate. The
security of the frontiers received his particular attention. In Germany he
annexed the territory between the Rhine above its junction with the Main
and the upper Danube, henceforth known as the Agri Decumates from the
tithe (_decuma_) paid as rental by colonists who settled there. Further
east on the Danube two strong legionary camps were constructed at
Carnuntum and Vindobona (Vienna). The Euphrates frontier was strengthened
by the establishment of Roman garrisons at Melitene and Satala on the
Upper Euphrates, and by annexing to the Syrian province the kingdom of
Commagene, which Gaius had restored to its native dynasty. Other client
principalities met a like fate. Among the soldiery discipline was restored
by disbanding four of the mutinous Rhine legions and replacing them with
new units. The praetorian guard, dissolved by Vitellius, was reconstituted
out of Italian cohorts following the precedent set by Augustus.

*The finances.* The most serious problem was that of the finances, for the
extravagance of the preceding emperors had left the government in a state
of bankruptcy and the provinces financially exhausted. Vespasian estimated
that the sum of $2,000,000,000 was required to make the necessary outlays.
To obtain this amount it was necessary to impose new taxes and avoid all
needless expenditures. Yet he not only succeeded in making the state
solvent but was able to carry out extensive building operations in Italy
and in the provinces. In Rome the Capitoline Temple which had been burned
in the fighting with the Vitellians was rebuilt, a temple of Peace was
erected on the forum, and the huge Colosseum arose on the site of one of
the lakes of Nero's Golden House. Vespasian also granted state support to
the teachers of Greek and Roman oratory in Rome.

In 74 A. D. Vespasian assumed the censorship and took a census of th