lecture 7 - roman imperialism

Hannibal to Nero CLAH105, C.E.P. Adams, A.M.Hirt, V. Zali

ROMAN IMPERIALISM Lecture 6


ANCIENT VIEWS Roman Imperialism


"For who is so worthless or so indolent as not to wish to know how and by what sort of government in less than fiJy-‐three years almost the whole inhabited world was subjugated and brought under one rule, that of the Romans’?’ "(Polybius History 1.1.5). "For having defeated the Carthaginians in this war and thinking that they had accomplished the most difficult and most important step towards their goal of universal dominion, thus and at that point were the Romans for the first Tme emboldened to reach out their hands for the rest and to cross with an army into Greece and Asia" (Polybius History 1.3.5f.).


"… the Romans saw that the Carthaginians had not only made Libya subject but also many districts in Spain and that they were in possession of all the islands in the Sardinian and Tyrrhenian seas. The Romans, therefore, were beginning to be exceedingly anxious lest, if the Carthaginians became masters of Sicily also, they would be very dangerous and formidable neighbours, surrounding the Romans as they would on every side and occupying a posiTon that commanded all the coasts of Italy. Now it was clear that if the MamerTnes did not obtain the assistance they requested, the Carthaginians would very soon reduce Sicily. For if they became masters of Messene once it was handed over to them, they were certain before long to crush Syracuse as well, since they already controlled nearly the whole of the rest of Sicily. The Romans saw all this, and felt that it was absolutely necessary not to let Messene slip or to allow the Carthaginians to secure what would be like a bridge to enable them to cross to Italy. In spite of protracted deliberaTons the Senate did not approve the proposal. …The people, however, although they had suffered much in the previous wars and were also in need of all-‐round recovery, did vote in favour of giving aid. They did so when the consuls, in addiTon to what was said earlier about the war being in the naTonal interest, pointed out the great gains in terms of plunder that would clearly be available to each individually." (Polyb. Hist, 1.10.1.-‐11.3)


Polyb. 36. 9. "There was a great deal of talk of all sorts in Greece, …. The opinions expressed in respect of the Carthaginians were widely divided and indicated enTrely opposite views. Some commended the Romans for adopTng a policy that was wise and statesmanlike as regards their empire. By destroying this constant menace, a city that had many Tmes disputed with them for supremacy and could do so again if the opportunity arose, they ensured dominion for their own country. This, it was said, was the acTon of sensible and far-‐sighted men.

Others contradicted this, saying that rather than adhering to the principles by which they acquired their supremacy they were liale by liale declining into that lust for power that characterised the Athenians and the Spartans and although they started later than them, the indicaTons were that they were heading towards the same end. For in earlier Tmes they had made war on everyone up to that point when they were victorious and their opponents had conceded that they had to obey the Romans and do as they were ordered."


"But nowadays they had given a foretaste of their policy by their conduct towards Perseus, when they destroyed the kingdom of Macedon root and branch, and had given the finishing stroke to that policy by the course adopted with regard to Car-‐thage. For, although the Carthaginians had commiaed no irreversible offence, the Romans took steps against them that were irreversible and severe in spite of their accepTng all condiTons and submibng to all commands.

Others again said that the Romans were, generally speaking, a civilised people and they had a disTncTve characterisTc on which they prided themselves, that they conducted their wars in a straighcorward and noble manner, not employing night aaacks or ambushes and scorning every advantage to be gained by stratagem and deceit, and regarding baales that are fought openly and face to face as alone befit-‐ Tng their character. But in the present instance their whole campaign against the Carthaginians had been conducted by means of stratagem and deceit. Liale by liale, by holding out inducements here and pracTsing concealment there, they had deprived them of any hopes of assistance from their allies. This was a line of conduct more appropriate by rights to the intrigues of a monarchy than to a consTtuTonal state like Rome and on any honest reckoning was virtually the same as impiety and treachery."


"Our people by defending its allies has become ruler of the whole world (Cicero, On the Republic, 3.35)" "In state policy jusTce in warfare must be strictly observed. For since there are two ways of fighTng something out, one through discussion, the other through force, and since the former is what is appropriate to men and the laaer to beasts, we must resort to force only when it is not possible to use discussion. Wars, therefore, should be undertaken for this reason, that we may live in peace without harm; and once victory has been achieved those whose behaviour in the war has not been cruel and savage should be spared ( Cicero, De officiis 1.34–5)


•  imperium: idenTfies power of magistrate of Roman ciTzens; •  later: imperium populi Romani, coercive power of Rome over its subjects •  bellum iustum: 'just' war •  fe1ales: priestly college in Rome involved in the religious aspect of going

to war •  condiTons of a just war:

–  enemy commits an offence against Rome or its allies –  formal demand for saTsfacTon –  in case of non-‐compliance war is declared with the proper ritual (spear

throw) •  enemy is given chance to recTfy wrong


CONCEPTUALISATIONS Roman Imperialism


•  "defensive imperialism" – wars fought for security – against real or perceived threats


•  "defensive imperialism" –  wars fought for security –  against real or perceived threats

•  mercanTle imperialism –  expansion driven by economic interests and interest groups

–  no direct evidence, except Polyb. 3.8.2.


Predatory Imperialism –  Rome: militarised, militarisTc,

bellicose, aggressive –  war machine on look-‐out for

new wars –  rise to power: conTnual

aggression against its neighbours


Predatory Imperialism –  Rome: militarised, militarisTc,

bellicose, aggressive –  war machine on look-‐out for

new wars –  rise to power: conTnual

aggression against its neighbours

CriTcism –  not every segment of society

geared to war (farmer soldiers, senators)

–  poliTcal context


Bibliography •  Champion, Craige B. ed. (2004). Roman Imperialism. Readings

and Sources, Malden MA: chap. 1. •  Eckstein, Arthur, in: Rosenstein, N. & R. Morstein-‐Marx eds.

(2006), A Companion to the Roman Republic, Malden MA: 567-‐589.

•  Erskine, Andrew (2010). Roman Imperialism, Edinburgh •  Harris, W. V. (2000). War and Imperialism in Republican

Rome, 327–70 B.C. Oxford2.

lecture 7 - roman imperialism

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