Roman Imperialism

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Many legends of patriotism and self-sacrifice: Lucretia, Coriolanus, Cincinnatus, etc. For Romans “the needs of the many outweighs the needs of the one.” (Utilitarianism like John Stuart Mill). Rome constantly at war from ~675 – 235 BC; grandsons of Mars (god of war) Religion: highly organized, but full of superstition and ritual. Law: originally ritual trumped justice so a mispronounced or forgotten prayer could lose a case on a technicality. In 235 BC, the plebeian Pont. Max. Tiberius Coruncanius revealed in writing all legal ritual prayers, changing law’s goal to achieving justice. Imperialism: The Romans were the only power to dominate the Mediterranean for a reason, Roman imperialism worked where others failed.…show more content…
200 BC). The earlier Greek sources are lost, but Plutarch preserves some of their names. Most early Roman historians are lost also. The earlier ones we know date to ~30 BC (Livy etc). Romans were unsure exactly what year was year 1 until Livy determined it as 753. Political theory: simply put “our way is the best.” Romans follow Polybius on the mixed constitution theory that Rome blended the best of all three systems. Eventually they had to admit by AD 30 they had returned to monarchy. But during the Republic Romans saw monarchy as inherently corrupt and harmful. Alliances with kings had to be tolerated to achieve Roman goals (Machiavellian diplomacy). Few attempts to establish republics overseas and they usually did not succeed. Literature: Chronologically these are 15 major Roman writers before AD 14 whom you should have heard of, but only those = in bold are…show more content…
Tarquin II sent his sons to Delphi for an oracle ca 512 • Decemviri went to Greece to study law, 452-51 • Romans hear about Alexander eventually (and his invading uncle) • Tarrentine War with Magna Graecia 280-75 • Cult of Asclepius in 193 (medicine began to trump folk remedies) Direct Influence (the Second Wave) of Hellenism begins with war between Rome and Macedon and Roman alliance with Greek leagues in the post Alexander world. • 3 Macedonian Wars, 215-05, 200-197, 169-67. Romans crush Philip V at Cynoscephalae, 197; capture Perseus at Pydna 167 and dissolve M monarchy. • Early proponents of Philhellenism: Scipio Africanus and T. Flamininus • Greek replaces Etruscan as the educated foreign language (Spanish replaced French ca. 1995 in public schools) • Greek East a place to learn for young adults, and a place to plunder art for rapacious governors • L. Mummius reveals Roman boorishness at Sack of Corinth, says “If you mess up that Da Vinchi, you will have to replace it” to his gambling soldiers. • Xenophobia and backlash to Phil-Hellenism led by rural Rs,, esp Cato the Elder Greek Contributions to Roman Civilization • Oratory • Logic and Rhetoric • Religion and mythology • Medicine • Political Science (e.g. Plato’s
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