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Rome’s Conquest of the
East
The Hellenistic World, Ca. 240 BCE
Teacher Oz’s Kingdom of History, Ancient Greece Page,
http://www.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/static/map09.html, accessed Dec. 1, 2006
The Mediterranean world after the
Second Punic War
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Rome in control of the Western Mediterranean; Carthage no longer
a threat; Spain pacified; Numidia loyal to Rome; Gauls were
neutralized (at least for now)
After Alexander’s death – Greek world split into series of
independent states; Greek world not unified
Four Hellenistic monarchies emerged: the Antigonids (Macedonia),
Ptolemies (Egypt), Attalids (Western Turkey - Pergamum) and
Seleucids (Asia Minor).
Two leagues formed among Greek city states: The Aetolian League
(anti-Macedonian) and The Achaean League (pro-Macedonian).
Rome becomes involved in the
Greek East
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Rome intervenes more regularly in the East
229-228 BCE – Problems with pirates in Illyria – Roman merchants killed;
Greek costal communities raided
Rome responds and suppresses pirates and establishes protectorate over
Greek city states on the Eastern Adriatic coast
220-218 BCE – Demetrius of Pharos (with support of Philip V of Macedonia)
attempts to seize Greek cities under Roman protection; defeated by
Romans, flees to Philip V.
215 BCE - 205 BC First Macedonian War: develops out of 2nd Punic
War: Philip V forms alliance with Hannibal; Rome forms alliance with king
Attalus I of Pergamum
212 BCE – Rome forms alliance with the Aetolian League against Philip V.
206-205 peace treaties with Philip
The Second Macedonian War
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205 BCE – Roman accuses Philip V and king Antiochus II (Seleucid
king) of conspiring to intervene in succession in Ptolemaic Egypt.
205-200 BCE – Philip V encroaches on cities in Illyria and Greece
under Roman protection
Rhodes and Pergamum appeal to Rome for help; Rome gives Philip
an ultimatum; Philip ignores it and seizes Abydus, a city under
Roman protection; Rome declares war
197 BCE – Battle of Cynoscephalae. Important battle - Polybius
comments on by comparing Macedonian and Roman forces (see
next slide)
196 BCE –Roman general T. Quinctius Flamininus proclaims “the
freedom of the Greeks.”; Romans evacuate Greece; Rome is the
guarantor of Greek freedom and autonomy.
Polybius on the Macedonian and
Roman Forces
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9 Now in all these matters the Macedonian formation is
at times of little use and at times of no use at all,
because the phalanx soldier can be of service neither in
detachments nor singly, while the Roman formation is
efficient. 10 For every Roman soldier, once he is armed
and sets about his business, can adapt himself equally
well to every place and time and can meet attack from
every quarter. 11 He is likewise equally prepared and
equally in condition whether he has to fight together
with the whole army or with a part of it or in maniples or
singly. 12 So since in all particulars the Romans are
much more serviceable, Roman plans are much more apt
p159to result in success than those of other (Polybius,
History 18.29)
Philip V
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The Peace with Philip V (196 BCE)
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“At this time the ten commissioners came to Rome to deal with affairs in
Greece, bringing with them the senate’s decree about peace with Philip.
The decree’s main points were as follows: all of the rest of the Greeks in
Asia and Europe were to be free and subject to their own laws; Philip was
to hand over to the Romans all Greeks under his rule and all towns with
garrisons before the start of the Isthmian Games (June 196 BC); he was to
leave free, after withdrawing his garrisons from them, the towns of
Euromos, Pedasa, Bargylia, and the town of Iasus, as well as Abydus,
Thasus, Myrina, and Perinthus; in accordance with the senate’s decree Titus
(Flamininus) was to write to Prusias (of Bythinia) about the liberation of the
Ciani; Philip was to restore to the Romans all prisoners of war and deserters
within the same time period, and all his decked ships, with the exception of
five light vessels and his ship with 16 banks of oars; he was to pay them
1000 talents, half immediately and half in installments over ten years.”
(Polybius 18.44.1-7)
Antiochus III (the Great)
Seleucid (Asia Minor)
The Hellenistic World, Ca. 240 BCE
Teacher Oz’s Kingdom of History, Ancient Greece Page,
http://www.uoregon.edu/~atlas/europe/static/map09.html, accessed Dec. 1, 2006
Rome’ confrontation with
the Seleucids
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222-187 BCE Confrontation begins with Antiochus III the Great
205 BCE – Rome accuses Antiochus III and Philip V of Macedon of
conspiring to invade Egypt (after Ptolemy’s death)
196 BCE – Antiochus III seizes the free Greek cities in Asia minor; Rome
demands he abandons them immediately - Antiochus III ignores Romans–
and occupies Thrace
194 BCE – the king of Pergamum, friend of Rome, complains to Rome
about Antiochus’ III operations in the Hellespont (strait connecting
Mediterranean and Black Sea)
192 BCE – Aetolian League asks Antiochus III to “free the Greeks”from the
Romans
Rome’s response: The First Syrian War (192-188 BCE).
The Conference of Lysimachea (196 BCE)
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“Just as Antiochus’ designs in Thrace were going as he wished, Lucius
Cornelius and his colleagues sailed into Selymbria; they were the
ambassadors sent by the Senate to arrange peace between Antiochus and
Ptolemy (V). At the same time there arrived three of the ten commissioners,
Publius Lentulus from Bargylia and Lucius Terrentius and Publius Villius
from Thasos. Their presence was promptly reported to the king and they all
met together a few days later at Lysimachea; and Hegesianax and Lysias,
the envoys sent to Titus (Flamininus) also happened to arrive at this time.
The private meetings of the king and the Romans were quite informal and
friendly, but afterwards when they met in public council to discuss matters
of state policy things took a very different turn. Lucius Cornelius demanded
that Antiochus should give up all cities in Asia under the rule of Ptolemy (V)
which he had just captured, and he earnestly requested him to evacuate
those under Philip (V). He also advised him to keep away from the
autonomous cities. Finally, he said that he could not understand why he
had crossed to Europe with such a large army and fleet: there was no other
reasonable interpretation of his action than that he was seeking to attack
the Romans. With these words the Romans fell silent.” (Polybius, XVIII.4950).
The First Syrian War
(192-188 BCE)
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Hannibal is special advisor to Antiochus III.
191 BCE – Antiochus II is defeated at battle of Thermopylae, with
Philip V of Macedon and the Achaean League on the side of Rome;
Antiochus III is abandoned by his Greek allies (Aetolian league)
190 BCE Hannibal is defeated at sea; Rome in alliance with
Pergamum defeats Antiochus III at battle of Magnesia.
190-189 BCE – Romans clean up the region; formal peace in 188
The Third Macedonia War
171-168 BCE
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179 BCE – Philip V is succeeded by his son Perseus.
179-171 BCE – Perseus marries Laodike (daughter of Seleucus IV);
expands his forces; forms alliances in Illyria, Thrace, and Epirus;
interferes in internal affairs of Greek city states.
King of Pergamum complains to Rome of Perseus’ violation of the
treaty.
171-168 BCE – Third Macedonian War – Rome (L. Aemillius
Paulus) defeats Perseus of Macedon at the battle of Pydna, 168 BCE
167 BCE – Antigonids are deposed, Macedonia is divided into 4
republics;
Macedonia and Epirus ruthlessly plundered by Romans. – Polybius is
taken as hostage to Rome.
Dramatic Change in Roman attitudes.
The Treatment of Macedonia and Epirus (167
BCE)
Plunder and Loot
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“After the public games had been held (at Amphipolis) and the bronze shields had been piled
onto the ships, the rest of the arms of all kinds were heaped into a huge pile, and the general,
after praying to Mars, Minerva, and Mother Lua, and the rest of the gods to whom it is right and
lawful to dedicate the spoils of the enemy, personally used a torch to kindle it…The gaze of the
crowd which came was no more drawn to the stage spectacle, the athletic contests or the chariot
races, than to all the booty of Macedonia which was put on show – statues, paintings, textiles,
vessels of gold, silver, bronze, and ivory made with great pains in the palace (at Pella), not only
for immediate show, like the things with which the palace at Alexandria was filled, but for
constant use. These were loaded onto the fleet and given to Gnaeus Octavius for transport to
Rome…Paullus sent despatches to Anicius so that there should be no disturbance over what was
going to take place, saying that the senate had granted to his army the booty from the cities of
Epirus whuch had defected to Perseus, and sent centurions to the individual cities, to say that
they had come to remove the garrisons so that people of Epirus might be free like the
Macedonians. He also summoned ten leading men from each city and told these to have all the
gold and silver brought into the public square, while cohorts were sent to all the cities. Those to
the cities further away were sent before those to the nearer ones, so that they would all arrive on
the same day. The tribunes and the centurions had been instructed as to what to do. Early in the
morning all the gold and silver was collected; at the fourth hour the soldiers were given the signal
to plunder the town; there was so much booty that a distribution was made of 400 denarii to
each of the cavalry and 200 to the infantry, and 150,000 people were led into slavery. Then the
walls of the plundered cities were torn down; there were about 70 communities. All the booty
was sold and from this the amounts given above were paid to the army.” (Livy, 45.33.1, 5-7,
34.1-6. )
Changes in Roman Attitudes and
politics
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After the 2nd Macedonian war Roman attitudes changed: more arrogant and
aggressive
Warfare has become profitable and necessary for Roman commanders in
competition for office and political prominence
Romans see themselves as patrons and other communities as clients.
Romans consider it their right to interfere in local matters even if
unconnected to Rome; this is supported by regional powers who play
Rome off against larger powers for their own interests.
Principal target in the East is now the Seleucid kingdom; Rome intervenes
in the 6th Syrian War between Ptolemy VI and Antiochus IV (170-168 BCE)
Rome Intervenes in Judaea - Revolt of Macabees (164-161 BCE) .
Roman Intervention in Egypt
(168 BCE)
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“As Antiochus was approaching Ptolemy in order to occupy
Pelusium, Popilius, the Roman commander, when greeted from a
distance by the king who held out his right hand, gave him the
tablet which he had ready containing the decree of the senate, and
ordered Antiochus to read it first, not thinking it right, it seems to
me, to give this usual mark of friendship before he knew whether
the intentions of the person greeting him were friendly or hostile.
When the king had read it, he said that he wanted to consult his
friends about this information, but Popilius, on hearing this, acted in
a manner thought to be harsh and extremely arrogant; he had with
him a staff cut from a vine, with which he drew a circle around
Antiochus and ordered him to give his decision about the letter
while still inside the circle. The king was startled at this assumption
of authority, but, after a few moments of doubt, said that he would
do all the Romans demanded.” (Polybius, 27.1-6)
Rome’s Treaty with the Jews
(161 BCE)
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“And Judas chose Eupolemus, son of John, son of Accus, and Jason, son of Eleazar,
and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance with the Romans, and to
request that they would take the yoke from them, for they saw that the kingdom of
the Greeks was reducing the Jews to slavery. And they went to Rome, a very great
journey, and came into the senate where they spoke and said, ‘Judas Maccabaeus
and his brothers and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to establish with you
an alliance and a peace, and for us to be enrolled as your allies and friends.’ And the
speech pleased the senate. And this is a copy of the letter which the senate wrote in
reply on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem to be for them there a memorial of
peace and alliance: ‘May it be well for the Romans and the people of the Jews by sea
and land forever, and may the sword and enemy be far from them. But if war comes
first upon Rome or any of their allies in all their dominion, the nation of the Jews will
fight alongside them with all their heart, as the occasion prescribes for them. To
those making war they shall not give or supply grain, arms, money, or ships, as
seems good to the Romans; and they shall keep their covenants without receiving
anything for them. In the same way, if war is made on the nation of the Jews first,
the Romans shall fight alongside them wholeheartedly, as the occasion prescribes.
And grain, arms, money, or ships shall not be given to those fighting against them,
as seems good to Rome; and they shall keep their covenant and that without deceit.”
(1 Maccabees 8.17-28).
The End of “Free” Macedonia and
Greece
Ca. 150 BCE – Andriscus, claiming to be son of Perseus
raised army and tries to reunite Macedonia; destroyed a
small Roman detachment, leads to war
 150-148 BCE – The Fourth Macedonian War;
Andriscus is defeated by Q. Caecilius Metelleus;
Macedonia is turned into a Roman province, receives a
garrison and is directly governed by Rome.
 Greeks angry with Roman meddling in Greek affairs, and
beat up Roman envoys in Corinth;
 The Achaean War (148-146 BCE); Lucius Mummius
completely and brutally destroys and sacks Corinth; all
of Greece is turned into a Roman province (Achaea).
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The Sack of Corinth (146 BCE)
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At nightfall, the Achaeans, who had taken refuge in Corinth after the battle,
escaped from the city; most of the Corinthians escaped with them as well.
Mummius at first held back from entering Corinth, though the gates were
open, suspecting that an ambush had been set inside the walls; however,
on the third day after the battle, he took Corinth by storm and burnt it. The
Romans slaughtered most of those they captured, but Mummius sold the
women and children as slaves; he also sold all the slaves who had been set
free and who had fought on the Achaean side who had not immediately
fallen on the battlefield. Mummius carried off the dedications which were
especially admired, as well as other works of art…Mummius razed the walls
of all the cities who had fought against Rome, and seized their arms, even
before the commissioners had been sent from Rome; when these arrived to
act with him, he began to put down democracies and establish
governments where magistrates were chosen for their property
qualifications; tribute was imposed on Greece…” (Pausanias 7.7-9)
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This concludes the conquest of Greece proper
After the Conquest of Greece
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Greece and Macedonia are directly governed by Rome
(Provinces) from 146 BCE
Potential threats such as the Seleucids are buffered by
“client” states: Pergamum, Judaea, Egypt;
Client states are called ‘friends’ (amici) but are really
clients of Roman senate (often tied to one particularly
prominent Roman senator/commander)
Rome established pro-Roman oligarchies in many citystates who are also tied to Rome by patron-client
relationship; owed Romans gratitude