Download paedogogus

Rome’s Conquest of the
Greek East
And its impact on Roman culture
and religion
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 ruled by his successors; Greek world was 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’s Conquest of the Greek East
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Philip V of Macedonia, defeated by Rome 197 BC
at battle of Cynoscephalae
Antiochus III invades Greece 192 BC
Antiochus III (the Great)
Seleucid (Asia Minor), defeated by Rome 189 BC
148 BC Macedonia becomes a Roman Province
146 Corinth destroyed by Rome – completes the
conquest of Greece proper
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
Consequences
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Enormous amount of wealth pours into Rome
from conquered Greek East
Works of art, gold, silver, large number of slaves
Many Greek slaves were well-educated and
became teachers in the houses of the elite
(paedogogus)
New wave of hellenization of Rome begins
Welcomed by some; met with resistance by
others: Cato the Elder
The Cult of Liber (Bacchus, Dionysos)
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Popular cult for centuries, widespread throughout Italy and in Rome
itself
Associated with agriculture, fertility, viticulture, sexuality;
Cult in grove of Stimula
Cult involved secret initiation
Membership in cult cut across usual boundaries between social
groups (included free and slaves) and gender, rich and poor,
Leadership in cult, priesthoods open to ordinary members including
women; women had prominent role in cult
Represented threat to traditional religious structure – religious
leadership was monopolized by Roman elite (magistrates)
Cult suppressed by Roman senate 186 BC - see primary document
(Livy)
For more details read Wiseman Chapter 8