The Roman Empire - Essay Example

? ROMAN EMPIRE Lecturer: Rome is undeniably the greatest established empires in the European history and whichdid influence a number of nations in the world. This path to greatness however, was hurdled by numerous challenges key among them resistance from their neighbors who challenged their territorial expansion and economic domination. This scenario saw war inevitable and consequently, Rome sprung into the battle field in many occasions to defend and pursue her interests. Such were a series of wars fought between the Romans and the Carthaginians known as the Punic wars. The second Punic war, fought between 208- 201 BC ( Duiker and Spielvogel 2008 p. 136 ) marks a significant episode in Rome’s military history, for they nearly lost the war to Hannibal, a great Carthaginian general. With the defeat of Hannibal at Zama by the Roman general Scipio, and the experience gained during the war, Rome appears to have learnt a lot from it and harbored bitter feelings at least for Carthage for the damages Hannibal caused; ravaging much of their homeland and leaving it in a deplorable state. The effect of this was to be seen in the manner in which Rome later formulated strategies, for tactical reasons, in handling her allies and foes in an attempt to expand and consolidate her empire. Indeed, it is the Punic wars that saw the rise of the Roman Empire and echoed the thud falling of the republic. With the fall of Carthage, The Romans inflicted severe punishment on her, an attempt which was meant to ensure that Carthage remained subservient. In the treaty signed between the two, Carthage agreed to Scipio’s terms which required her to pay Rome an indemnity of 10,000 talents in the subsequent five decades. In addition, Carthage was not to enter into any war without Rome’s consent and was to surrender her navy; all her warships and elephants (Koeller 2005).This defeat, coupled with the unfriendly Scipio’s terms, humbled Carthage and the Romans felt that the punishment rendered her toothless and that she was never to bite again, leave alone bark at Rome. In using this approach, Rome successfully managed to tame and robe Carthage of her political power making her to coil her tail, but not for long. Rome was not done with Carthage just yet. In a move seen as one to expand its empire, Rome turned its rage on the Kingdoms that did offer support to Hannibal during the war. Such were the kingdom of Macedon and some parts of Greece .This also saw the Mediterranean islands and Spain cede to Rome. Another score card at Rome’s disposal that came into effect during this period was the adoption of a rapacious and brutal foreign policy: diplomacy based on trickery rather than on true valor. Lewis and Reinhold 1990 p. 202-203 provides succinctly how Rome, with their act of deceit, hoodwinked king Perseus, tactfully, with a scheme that saw him disadvantaged in a war Rome undeservingly won. Reporting their mission to the senate, notes Reinhold and Lewis, Marcius and Atillus were acknowledged for having shown skillful management in the execution of their mandate and their mission was approved. Though not a unilateral senate decision (with the older senators not amused with this decision terming it contrary to Roman traditions), the cunning diplomacy saw the day. It is in light of the above perhaps, that ruthless oppression became synonymous to Roman rule as seen in the acts of such individuals as Servius Salpicius Galba, the praetor of Farther Spain. Galba, during the war with the Lusitanians, committed a terrible atrocity, one which Reinhold terms as ‘treacherous annihilation of a disarmed populace.’ Disguised as a peace maker and a sympathizer to the Lusitanians, Galba cunningly laid a snare in which his prey unsuspectingly got trapped. Defenseless and disadvantaged as they were, the Lusitanians were easily slewed by the Roman soldiers. This unfriendly Rome’s foreign policy subjected onto uninviting kingdoms appears to have worked in Rome’s favor in her quest for territorial expansion (Lewis and Reinhold 1990 pp. 206-207) Following the disastrous battle at Cannae, writes Duiker and Spielvogel 2008 p. 136, the Romans were forced to recruit larger armies making the number of legions to rise to twenty five. Other than the traditional conscription of men into the army, a new method of recruitment was seen particularly by a Roman general named Marius. This system placed much power in the hands of the generals other than the senate as the volunteers pledged allegiance and loyalty to the general. Voluntary as opposed to conscription of soldiers proved a worthy cause as a means to have a united force thus suppressing strife in the army. Rhodes, one of Rome’s allies during this period, did not receive a prefential treatment either especially when their interests conflicted. Instead, just like the others, Rome’s wrath could not leave the kingdom of Rhodes unscathed. Lewis and Reinhold 1990 pp. 204-205 un earths the grave mistake Rhode committed against Rome which left their friendship at the mercy of the Romans. It arose from the war between Rome and Perseus which impacted negatively on Rhode’s economy. The pro-Rome regime was ousted out of power by a popular movement. The incumbent government then set forth to negotiate for a peace deal between Rome and Perseus. The Romans took this as an act of disobedience from their long time ally, Rhodes. With the war won in Rome’s favor, not even Rhode’s apologetic acts could spare her from punishment. The territories in Asia granted to them by Minor were taken away and the Delos port declared a free port. More so, Rome made a verdict which ultimately was to govern her future relations with Rhode. In a reply to Rhode’s appeal concerning the fate of their friendship with Rome, the latter a statement which implied that the two were never to become allies again. This was disillusionment for Rhodes for she thrived on Roman protection against her enemies. As earlier indicated, Rome did employ varied policies during her process of territorial expansion .Using coercion where she faced resistance and making peace in the form of treaties where a territory willingly surrendered. Roman soldiers would then be stationed in the region. In territories where the inhabitants were against the Roman rule, war was inevitable. The aftermath of such bloody wars caused a toll on human lives and destruction on property, sometimes a total annihilation was carried out .The third Punic war, also called the third Carthaginian war, provides a vivid picture of how brutal Rome treated those who defied her policies and opposed her rule. The Carthaginians broke a treaty they made with Rome after the second Punic war by going into war with Masinissa in 149-146 BCE. (Duiker and Spielvogel 2008 p. 135) This infuriated Rome who dispatched an army to Carthage. One of the demands made by Rome was that the Carthaginians migrate to some inland site, a move they resisted. Scipio, the grandson of the former general who conquered Carthage, razed Carthage to the ground thanks to Senator Cato. Cato, argues Reinhold, convinced the senate to carry out the war on Carthage. This he did by deliberately adding the words ‘And I also think that Carthage must be destroyed’ to any statement of opinion on any matter he made in the senate. With the senate’s approval, Carthage was totally annihilated, survivors sold into slavery and the land turned into a province. Duiker and Spielvogel further informs that the Romans further sow the land with salt so that nothing will ever grow in it again. Another kingdom that also faced the wrath of Rome’s brutality was Corinth. Mummius stormed Corinth and set it on fire in pursuit of the Achaeans who had sought solace here, trying to escape from the above war. In fear of the Romans, the Corinthians too fled with them. Those found were slewed by the Roman soldiers but the women and children were sold to slavery. More so, Mummius did not spare the already freed slaves who fought alongside the Achaeans whom he sold into slavery (Lewis and Reinhold 1990 p. 209). In all the cities that had made war against Rome, writes Lewis and Reinhold 1990 p. 210, Mummius carried out acts of destruction on them by demolishing their walls and disarming the inhabitants. Such is what was done to Greece. With the arrival of commissioners from Rome, Mummius established governments based on property qualifications. Rome imposed tributes on Greece and forbade them from acquiring property outside their own state. However, these were later restored. In conclusion, the Punic wars saw the end of the republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. In attempts to consolidate and expand her empire, Rome found herself in constant fight with her neighbors and those who resisted her rule. With much military prowess and success, Rome became a master not only in Europe but also controlled the Mediterranean. Suppression and brutality marred Rome’s rule and various atrocities were committed by the Roman soldiers under the watchful eye and guidance of their generals. The wars gave rise to stronger generals who wielded much power and influence in Rome. This eventually culminated into the fall of the republic with the rise of the three triumvirates to power: Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire. References David W Koeller.2005.’Meditteranian Basin Chronology’. http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/geoghist/histories/oldcivilization/phoenicia/war/war.html http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/mediterranean/2ndPunic.html http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6a.asp Independent Hall Association .2008. ‘Ancient Civilizations’ Naphtali Lewis and Meyer Reinhold.1990.Roman Civilization: Selected Readings: The Republic and the Augustan Age. New York: Columbia University Press. William, J Duiker and Jackson J Spielvogel.2008. World History: To 1800.Belmont: Cengage Learning. Read More