Roman attitudes to empire and imperialism: the view from history
By Hannah Cornwell
Abstract: In this article, Cornwell examines the place of imperialism in the Roman mindset. She shows that the extension of Roman influence abroad was conceived of by some as a profoundly ethical pursuit which furthered the interests of Roman allies and promoted good governance in distant locales. Rhetoric about the ‘freedom and autonomy’ gifted by Rome to subject peoples was accompanied by warnings about the servitude which might be imposed by others in the absence of Roman might. Blackwell shows that even major contributors to the Roman imperial project such as Caesar were awake to the strong tension between such ideals and the practice of empire, noting the propensity of Roman armies to bring with them bloodshed to areas they arrived in on behalf of the state. After an exploration of the contemporary motives for Roman expansionism, Blackwell discusses the way in which the notion of a Roman peace came to be used to justify brutal acts which furthered the subjection of enemies to imperial rule; the acceptance of control was a key condition for peace, with Rome’s track record was one which suggested that extreme viciousness and the waging of existential warfare would likely follow when this was refused.
Academic Journal Article in: Journal of Roman Archaeology, Vol 32. 2019. pp. 478-484.
View on: CambridgeCore