View source for Aquileia

==== Roman Empire ====
Although the [[Iapydes]] plundered Aquileia during the [[Augustus|Augustan period]], subsequent increased settlement and no lack of profitable work meant the city was able to develop its resources. Jewish artisans established a flourishing trade in [[Roman glass|glass-work]]. Metal from [[Noricum]] was [[Forging|forged]] and exported. The ancient Venetic trade in amber from the Baltic continued. Wine, especially its famous ''Pucinum'' was exported. [[Olive oil]] was imported from [[Proconsular Africa]]. By sea, the port of Aquae Gradatae ''(''modern [[Grado, Friuli Venezia Giulia|Grado]]) was developed. On land, Aquileia was the starting-point of several important roads leading outside Italy to the north-eastern portion of the empire — the road (''[[Via Julia Augusta]]'') by Iulium Carnicum ([[Zuglio]]) to Veldidena (mod. [[Wilten]], near [[Innsbruck]]), from which branched off the road into [[Noricum]], leading by Virunum ([[Klagenfurt]]) to Laurieum ([[Lorch, Austria|Lorch]]) on the [[Danube]], the road leading via [[Emona]] into [[Pannonia]] and to [[Sirmium]] ([[Sremska Mitrovica]]), the road to [[Tarsatica]] (near Fiume, now [[Rijeka]]) and Siscia ([[Sisak]]), and the road to Tergeste ([[Trieste]]) and the [[Istria]]n coast.

[[Augustus]] was the first of a number of emperors to visit Aquileia, notably during the Pannonian wars in 12–10&nbsp;BC. It was the birthplace of [[Tiberius]]' son by Julia, in the latter year. The Roman poet [[Martial]] praised Aquileia as his hoped-for haven and resting place in his old age.<ref>Martial, ''Epigrams'' lib. 4, 25: Aemula Baianis Altini litora villis et Phaethontei conscia silva rogi, quaeque Antenoreo Dryadum pulcherrima Fauno nupsit ad Euganeos Sola puella lacus, et tu Ledaeo felix Aquileia Timauo, hic ubi septenas Cyllarus hausit aquas:
 uos eritis nostrae requies portusque senectae, si iuris fuerint otia nostra sui. http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/martial/mart4.shtml</ref>

In terms of religion, the populace adopted the Roman pantheon, although the [[Celts|Celtic]] sun-god, [[Belenus]], had a large following. [[History of the Jews in the Roman Empire|Jews]] practiced their ancestral religion. Meanwhile, soldiers brought the martial [[cult of Mithras]].
[[File:Binnenhafen von Aquileia.JPG|thumb|The ancient inland port of Aquileia]]
In the war against the [[Marcomanni]] in 167, the town was hard pressed; its fortifications had fallen into disrepair during the long peace. Nevertheless, when in 168 [[Marcus Aurelius]] made Aquileia the principal fortress of the empire against the barbarians of the North and East, it rose to the pinnacle of its greatness and soon had a population of 100,000. [[Septimius Severus]] visited in 193. In 238, when the town took the side of the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] against the emperor [[Maximinus Thrax]], the fortifications were hastily restored, and proved of sufficient strength to [[Siege of Aquileia|resist for several months]], until Maximinus himself was assassinated.