The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome Rome enters the Greek East

Alexander’s Legacy: The Hellenistic World Antigonid Macedonia Antigonid Macedonia Seleucid Syria Seleucid Syria Ptolemaic Egypt Ptolemaic Egypt Lesser Kingdoms and Independent States: Pergamum, Rhodes, Bithynia, Bactria Lesser Kingdoms and Independent States: Pergamum, Rhodes, Bithynia, Bactria “Wild Cards” in Greece: Achaean and Aetolian Confederations “Wild Cards” in Greece: Achaean and Aetolian Confederations

Rome’s First Step into the Greek World: The First Illyrian War ( BCE ) Illyrian Aggression against Italian maritime trade (Agron and Teuta) Illyrian Aggression against Italian maritime trade (Agron and Teuta) The Roman commission of the Coruncanii The Roman commission of the Coruncanii The Campaign of Spring 229 (20,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry) The Campaign of Spring 229 (20,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry) Treaty with Queen Teuta (Polybius 2.12): Treaty with Queen Teuta (Polybius 2.12):  Indemnity (unspecified)  Evacuate large portions of Illyria  Forbidden to sail beyond Lissus with more than two galleys

The Adriatic and the Straits of Otranto (Graphic marks Lissus)

Polybius’ Assessment (Histories 2.12) “When [the treaty with Queen Teuta] had been concluded, Postumius sent envoys to the Aetolian and Achaean Leagues. On their arrival these officers first explained the reasons which had led to the war and caused the Romans to cross the Adriatic, next they gave a report of what had been accomplished in the campaign, and lastly they read out the treaty which they had made with the Illyrians. The envoys were received with courtesy by both the leagues, after which they returned by sea to Corcyra. The conclusion of this treaty had delivered the Greeks from a fear which had hung over them all, for the Illyrians were not merely the opponents of this people or that, but the common enemies of all alike.”

Rome and Macedonia Philip V and Hannibal, the pact of 215 BCE Philip V and Hannibal, the pact of 215 BCE The First Macedonian War ( BCE ), minimal Roman effort (Peace of Phoenice) The First Macedonian War ( BCE ), minimal Roman effort (Peace of Phoenice) The Second Macedonian War ( BCE ) The Second Macedonian War ( BCE )  Rhodes and Pergamum complain of Philip’s aggression in eastern Mediterranean (alliance with Seleucid Syria against weakened Ptolemies, )  Cynoscephalae (197) demonstrates superiority of manipular formation over phalanx  Flamininus’ Isthmian Proclamation, 196 BCE (Greek Freedom)

The Carthaginian-Macedonian Alliance of 215 BCE “And you will render assistance to us in the war in which we are engaged with the Romans until the gods vouchsafe the victory to us and to you, and you will give us such help as we have need of or as we agree upon.” Polybius, Histories, 7.9

Argead Macedonia (end 6 th c. BCE )

Macedonia and Greece

The Antiochene War, BCE Antiochus III the Great, King of Seleucid Syria Antiochus III the Great, King of Seleucid Syria  “Spear-Won” Empire  The Eastern Campaign Disgruntled Aetolians and the “Treaty of Laevinus” (212/211 BCE ) Disgruntled Aetolians and the “Treaty of Laevinus” (212/211 BCE ) The Battle at Magnesia The Battle at Magnesia  Scipios command Roman forces

The Laevinus Treaty, 212/211 BCE “If any cities of those [enemy] nations are seized by force by the Romans, as far as the Roman people are concerned the Aetolian people may take possession of those cities and those territories; whatever [movable] property the Romans capture the Romans shall possess. If any of those cities are captured by the Romans and the Aetolians jointly, as far as the Roman people are concerned the Aetolians may take possession of those cities and their territories; whatever they [jointly] capture besides the city, they shall share it equally. If any of those cities capitulates or surrenders [without resistance] to the Romans or the Aetolians, as far as the Roman people are concerned those men and cities and their territories may be admitted by the Aetolians into their league.” Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum, XIII, no. 382

Greek Lands of Central and Southern Asia Farthest Extent of Seleucid Power to the East

The Third Macedonian War, BCE King Perseus of Macedonia, son of Philip V King Perseus of Macedonia, son of Philip V  Addresses socio-economic problems in Greece, including debt relief  Eumenes II of Pergamum stirs up Roman suspicions against Perseus  Roman propaganda represents Perseus as a social revolutionary The Battle at Pydna, 168 BCE The Battle at Pydna, 168 BCE The 1,000 hostages (Polybius) The 1,000 hostages (Polybius) The Four “Independent” Macedonian Republics The Four “Independent” Macedonian Republics

Rome:Greece::Patron:Client Flamininus’ Isthmian Proclamation (196 BCE)—Catch 22? Flamininus’ Isthmian Proclamation (196 BCE)—Catch 22? Classic Misunderstandings: Rome and Aetolia (The Macedonian-Aetolian Peace Treaty of 206; Glabrio, Phaneas, deditio, and chains) Classic Misunderstandings: Rome and Aetolia (The Macedonian-Aetolian Peace Treaty of 206; Glabrio, Phaneas, deditio, and chains) Rhodes and Pergamum as Arbiters Rhodes and Pergamum as Arbiters  Rhodes and the free port at Delos  Romans foster internal discord at Pergamum Antiochus IV Epiphanes and “The Day of Eleusis” in 168 (Polyb ) Antiochus IV Epiphanes and “The Day of Eleusis” in 168 (Polyb ) Andriscus and the Macedonian Revolt, 149 BCE Andriscus and the Macedonian Revolt, 149 BCE Achaean War, Roman sacking of Corinth, 146 BCE Achaean War, Roman sacking of Corinth, 146 BCE The Third Punic War, Sack of Carthage in 146 BCE The Third Punic War, Sack of Carthage in 146 BCE

Flamininus’ Isthmian Proclamation, 196 BCE “ ‘The Roman Senate and Titus Quinctius their general, having conquered King Philip and the Macedonians, decree that the Corinthians, the Phocians, all the Locrians, the island of Euboea, the Magnesians, the Thessalians, the Perrhaebians, and the Acheans of Phthiotis shall be free, exempt from all tribute, and subject to their own laws.’ This list comprised all the states which had been subject to Philip.” “When the herald had finished his proclamation the feeling of joy was too great for men to take it all in….Then they realized that the joyful news was true, and from the storm of applause and repeated cheers that arose it was perfectly evident that none of life’s blessings is dearer to the masses than liberty.” Livy,

C. Popillius Laenas, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and “The Day of Eleusis,” 168 BCE “At the time when Antiochus approached Ptolemy and meant to occupy Pelusium, Caius Popillius Laenas, the Roman commander, on Antiochus greeting him from a distance and then holding out his hand, handed to the king…the copy of the senatorial decree, and told him to read it first…But when the king…said he would like to communicate with his friends…Popillius acted in a manner which was thought to be offensive and exceedingly arrogant. He was carrying a stick cut from a vine, and with this he drew a circle round Antiochus and told him he must remain inside this circle until he gave his decision…The king was astonished at this authoritative proceeding, but, after a few minutes hesitation, said he would do all that the Romans demanded.” Polybius,

Cultural Politics The Roman Reception of Greek Culture

Cato the Elder ( BCE ) novus homo or “new man” from Tusculum; client of L. Valerius Flaccus novus homo or “new man” from Tusculum; client of L. Valerius Flaccus Military tribune in the Hannibalic War; fought at the Metaurus (207 BCE ) Military tribune in the Hannibalic War; fought at the Metaurus (207 BCE ) Quaestor in 204 in Sicily; plebeian aedile in 199; praetor in Spain in 198 Quaestor in 204 in Sicily; plebeian aedile in 199; praetor in Spain in 198 Consul in 195 with Flaccus; takes province of Spain; censor in 184 Consul in 195 with Flaccus; takes province of Spain; censor in 184

Cato, the “Politics of the Past,” and Hellenism “Cato the Elder could boast of accomplishments in a remarkable variety of spheres, public and private, military, political, and literary, but none perhaps more important than his contribution to the self-consciousness of a Roman national character. His expressed attitudes and actions toward the Greeks must be interpreted in that context. Cato’s mission was neither to resist Hellenism nor to liberate Rome from its influence but to highlight its features, both admirable and objectionable, in order to give clearer definition to the qualities and values that set Rome apart. Mastery achieved in the world of politics and war should now be matched by a comparable sense of esteem in the cultural world. Cato prodded his countrymen toward an articulation of their own national character.” Erich S. Gruen, Culture and National Identity in Republican Rome, 83

Cato and Scipio Africanus “When Cato was posted to Africa to serve as Scipio’s quaestor for the invasion of Carthage, he saw that his commander was not only indulging in his usual lavish expenditure, but was also squandering extravagantly high pay upon his troops….He proceeded at once to Rome and helped Fabius to denounce the general before the Senate. They attacked Scipio’s waste of immense sums of money and his childish fondness for public games and theatrical performances.” Plutarch, Life of Cato the Elder, 3

“Catonians” and “Philhellenes”: A Classic Approach-Avoidance Conflict? Foreign writings on religious matters confiscated and burned by senatorial decree and praetorian edict in 213 BCE (Livy, ) Foreign writings on religious matters confiscated and burned by senatorial decree and praetorian edict in 213 BCE (Livy, ) Greek philosophical writings destroyed in 181 BCE (Livy, ) Greek philosophical writings destroyed in 181 BCE (Livy, ) Two Greek philosophers (Epicureans) expelled from Rome in 173 BCE (Athenaeus, a) Two Greek philosophers (Epicureans) expelled from Rome in 173 BCE (Athenaeus, a) Praetor M. Pomponius proposes motion to rid Rome of Greek philosophers and rhetoricians in 161 BCE (Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, ) Praetor M. Pomponius proposes motion to rid Rome of Greek philosophers and rhetoricians in 161 BCE (Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, ) Polybius and Cato Polybius and Cato

“Scipio Africanus [Aemilianus] once approached [Cato] at Polybius’ request to enlist his support on behalf of the Greek exiles from Achaea. The question was debated at length in the Senate, some speakers contending that the men should be allowed to return home, and others that they should continue to be detained in Italy. At last Cato rose and asked: ‘Have we nothing better to do than to spend an entire day sitting here and discussing whether some poor old Greeks are to be buried by our own grave-diggers or their own?’ The Senate then decreed that the men should be allowed to return home, but a few days later Polybius tried to have another proposal laid before the Senate, whereby the exiles would have the honors and positions which they had formerly held in Achaea restored to them, and he asked Cato’s opinion as to whether this petition was likely to succeed. Cato smiled and told him that what he was suggesting was rather as though Odysseus had wanted to go back into the Cyclop’s cave to fetch a cap and belt he had left behind.” Plutarch, Life of Cato the Elder, 9

The Athenian “Philosophical” Embassy, 155 BCE “Cato was an old man…these philosophers arrived…The report spread that a Greek of extraordinary talents had arrived…Most of the Romans were gratified by this, and were well content to see their sons embrace Greek culture and frequent the society of such estimable men. But Cato, from the moment that this passion for discussion first showed itself in Rome, was deeply disturbed. He was afraid that the younger generation might allow their ambitions to be diverted in this direction, and might come to value most highly a reputation that was based on feats of oratory rather than upon feats of arms. So when the prestige of the philosophers continued to rise still higher…Cato made up his mind to find some plausible excuse for clearing the whole tribe of philosophers out of the city.” Plutarch, Life of Cato the Elder, 22; see also Pliny the Elder, Natural History, 7.112

Other Signs of Roman Cultural Resistance to Hellenism “Verism” as a reaction to idealizing Hellenistic royal portraiture “Verism” as a reaction to idealizing Hellenistic royal portraiture The Latin Sexual Vocabulary The Latin Sexual Vocabulary  Greek loan words for certain sexual practices which Romans regard as depraved  Romans associate Greek with passive male homosexuality

Alexander: Hellenistic Idealizing Portraiture

Portrait Bust: Roman “Verism”

Another Example of Roman “Verism” (Realistic Portraiture)

Readings for Next Meeting H.H. Scullard, From the Gracchi to Nero, 1-87 H.H. Scullard, From the Gracchi to Nero, 1-87 Michael Crawford, “Rome and the Greek Wolrd: Economic Relationships,” EconHistRev 39 (1977) Michael Crawford, “Rome and the Greek Wolrd: Economic Relationships,” EconHistRev 39 (1977) John North, “The Development of Roman Imperialism,” Journal of Roman Studies 71/72 (1981/1982) 1-9 John North, “The Development of Roman Imperialism,” Journal of Roman Studies 71/72 (1981/1982) 1-9

Questions for Readings Why does North say that as a result of Harris’ study the view of a Roman defensive imperialism in its extreme form is “virtually untenable”? Why does North say that as a result of Harris’ study the view of a Roman defensive imperialism in its extreme form is “virtually untenable”? Where does North agree with Sherwin-White in seeing weaknesses in Harris’ argument? Why does North believe that Harris places undue emphasis on conscious motivations among the senators? Where does North agree with Sherwin-White in seeing weaknesses in Harris’ argument? Why does North believe that Harris places undue emphasis on conscious motivations among the senators? How does Crawford argue that the Roman economic exploitation of the Greek East was “a conscious policy”? How does Crawford account for the closing of mining of precious metals in Macedonia in 167 BCE (Livy, )? How does Crawford argue that the Roman economic exploitation of the Greek East was “a conscious policy”? How does Crawford account for the closing of mining of precious metals in Macedonia in 167 BCE (Livy, )?

Assignments for Next Meeting Group Discussion of the Breakdown of the Republican System and the Rise of the Roman Warlord (Sculllard) Group Discussion of the Breakdown of the Republican System and the Rise of the Roman Warlord (Sculllard) Group Discussion of North on Harris and Crawford on Economic Relationships Group Discussion of North on Harris and Crawford on Economic Relationships