The ancient Greeks and Romans are often seen as two distinct and entirely separate civilizations, but their military and intellectual relationships were far more entwined and complex. Rome may have started as a small city-state, but it would later build an empire by conquering Greece and spreading its Roman culture throughout. When did Rome conquer Greece, and what implications did it have for both societies?
To understand when Rome conquered Greece, one must first look back to the preceding centuries. Before 130 BCE, the Greek city-states were flourishing, independent from each other and all major powers. A series of wars, followed by a phalanx-breaking military campaign of a Roman general, resulted in the gradual dominance of Roman power over all of the city-states of the Greek mainland. After a few years, the islands of the Aegean Sea also came under Roman control. By about 156 BCE, the entirety of the Greek mainland and its islands were firmly in Roman hands.
The Roman conquest of Greece had undeniable implications for both cultures. For the Romans, it meant access to a diversity of new resources, architectures, philosophies, and cultures. Romans brought their revered law, literature, and engineering to Greece and became renowned as cultural patrons, able to develop and enforce laws and to commission works of art. This assimilation of Greek culture into Roman society resulted in the emergence of the Greco-Roman culture.
The Greek people’s freedom, democracy, and autonomy did not fully go away with the Roman takeover, as was demonstrated by the Jewish revolts which occurred around the edges of the Roman Empire in Palestine and Judea. Ancient Greeks continued to govern the cities and states in which they lived, and they were allowed to retain many of their traditional customs. However, the control of their destinies was now partially in the hands of their Roman overlords.
At the same time, the Greeks also benefited from the cultural exchange with Rome. Roman literature and philosophy filtered through to the Greeks and vice versa. This is evident in the art, architecture, and even the political systems that were established. The Greeks may have lost some autonomy, but they gained a much more cosmopolitan outlook on life.
Furthermore, the Roman conquest brought a sense of permanence to Greece that had not previously been present. Things that were previously seen as ephemeral, from city-states to ideological movements, began to gain a certain solidity due to Roman control. This new stability allowed for the development of independent cities and a new brand of philosophy to take hold. Ultimately, the conquest of Greece by the Romans would not only open the door to centuries of cultural exchange and enrichment, but it would also allow for a new way of thinking to emerge that would eventually lay the foundations for the modern world.
Development of Greco-Roman Culture
The conquest of Greece by the Romans brought the two cultures into close contact, leading to the synthesis of a new Greco-Roman culture. This culture blended aspects of both societies and was spread across the expanse of the empire. Roman law allowed for freedom of religion and worship and Rome also encouraged the development of its own version of Greek mythology and literature. Roman architecture and engineering reached its highest peak during this period and Greco-Roman art remains a lasting legacy.
The Roman conquest also gave Greeks access to a variety of new technologies. The archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, unearthed a hoard of artifacts in the Aegean city of Troy, which provided Archeologist with a glimpse into ancient Greek life.
In addition, Greco-Roman literature provided a unique perspective on the past, as well as helping to shape the narrative of the future. Roman authors such as Cicero, Tacitus, Livy, and Plutarch wrote of events in the classical world, giving us a vivid portrait of the time and its people. This literature still shows its presence in the modern world, with works like the Odyssey, Aeneid, and Metamorphoses still widely available in print today.
Latest Archaeological Finds Regarding Ancient Greece
Recent archaeological finds have revealed exciting and intriguing elements of ancient Greek life, as well as evidence that both Rome and Greece were actively engaged in cultural exchange. In 2018, an excavation of an ancient Greek city on the island of Rhodes unearthed a large collection of Roman coins. This suggests that the Greeks conducted trade with the Romans and vice versa, long before Rome conquered the entire area.
In addition, the recent archeological finds have also indicated that many of the Greek temples and monuments, such as the Parthenon, were in fact constructed by the Romans. Though the construction techniques were similar to their Greek predecessors, the use of Roman engineering techniques is apparent in the finished structures.
Recently, ancient Greek shipwrecks have also been discovered off the coast of Turkey. These vessels are believed to have been constructed during the Roman period and may have been used to navigate trade within the newly-created Roman Empire. This further demonstrates the cultural exchange between Greeks and Romans during this period and the extent of Roman control over the Aegean Sea.
Influence of Greek Language
The Roman period also saw the Romans take in the language of the Greeks and start to use it in their own writings. Eventually, the Greek language would become the ‘lingua franca’ of the Roman Empire, used in all aspects of life—from legal documents to private conversations. This resulted in the spreading of the Greek language around the territory of the Roman Empire, which would eventually give birth to the modern Romance languages, such as French, Spanish, and Italian.
The Romans also adopted many Greek words into their own language, a process known as ‘neolatinization’. This neologization of the Latin language resulted in the birth of a bilingual culture in which both the Latin and Greek languages were combined in everyday speech. This new language is known as Koine Greek, which is still spoken today in some regions of the Middle East.
Impact on Modern Society
The Roman conquest of Greece had a profound impact on the ancient world, with ramifications that are still visible today. The Greco-Roman culture laid the foundation for modern Western cultures and set the stage for the global world we inhabit today. The philosophies and ideas of the ancient world have been passed down and retold for centuries, giving us an insight into how various aspects of our lives have changed over time.
The Roman conquest of Greece also ushered in an era of global trade and exploration. As the Roman Empire stretched ever farther and wider, its ambition needed to be matched with advanced methods of transportation and communication. This need for increased mobility saw the development of roads, ships, and new landscapes, all of which changed the face of the world permanently.
The Roman conquest of Greece has also seen its equal in modern times. In the 20th century, the expansion of the United States’ power and influence across the world had similarities with the Roman imperialism, with US culture becoming the de facto global culture.
Implications of Military Dominance
The Roman conquest of Greece also had implications for the development of the Roman military. The control of the Greek city-states gave Rome access to a vast knowledge base of military techniques and tactics. For example, the Greeks had pioneered the usage of large-scale naval battles, which the Romans had yet to employ. By mastering the art of naval warfare, Rome was able to expand its empire across the Mediterranean Sea faster and more efficiently.
Furthermore, the Roman conquest of Greece led to the development of new methods of siege warfare, with Roman military engineers deploying clever tactics and planning to break the walls of their opponents. This allowed the Romans to take their military campaigns to entirely new levels, solidifying their dominance on the battlefield.
In essence, the Roman conquest of Greece provided the Romans with an unprecedented level of military power and capabilities, which they used to build an empire that would last for centuries. This may not have ultimately been beneficial to the Greeks, but it did open the door to centuries of cultural exchange and growth.
Ongoing Debate on Roman Impact
Despite the Roman Empire’s undeniable effect on Greece, debate still centers on whether it was ultimately beneficial to the Greeks or not. Some argue that the Greek culture was diluted to fit the Roman-style, while others view it as a period of much needed unity and prosperity. Ultimately, there are no clear conclusions as to whether the Roman conquest of Greece was good or bad, and the debate is likely to continue for centuries to come.
The impact of the Roman Empire’s presence in Greece should not be understated. In addition to the better known accomplishments in art and architecture, it also resulted in the spread of a new, unified culture which was felt all across the Mediterranean region. The Roman conquest of Greece may have taken away their autonomy, but it did provide them with much needed stability, trade opportunities, and a wider perspective of the world.
