In the history of the Roman Empire, the Latin term civitas (plural civitates) referred to the condition of Roman citizenship. It was also used to describe a type of settlement. As the empire grew, inhabitants of the outlying Roman provinces would either be classed as dediticii, meaning "capitulants," or be treated as client kingdoms with some independence guaranteed through treaties. The latter group were known as civitates foederate and were exempt from paying tribute or the rule of Roman law.… (More on Civitas)