Powers Coexisted: Rome, Rhodes, and Pergamon in Western Asia Minor, 188-146 BCE

Chen, D. (Dapeng)

Powers Coexisted: Rome, Rhodes, and Pergamon in Western Asia Minor, 188-146 BCE

Files

65c38b2527273-ReMa_Thesis_Dapeng_Chen.pdf (1.05 MB)

Authors

Chen, D. (Dapeng)

Issue Date

2024-02-06

Language

en

URI

https://theses.ubn.ru.nl/handle/123456789/16234

Abstract

The Peace of Apameia in 189 BCE distributed former Seleucid territories west of the Taurus to Rhodes and Pergamon, who contributed crucially to Roman victory. Although the Romans were de facto the sole supremacy of the Mediterranean afterwards, the remoteness of Asia Minor and reluctance to intervene with martial forces limited the reach of Roman power. Rhodes and Pergamon became collaborators of Roman supremacy rather than dependent states. They enjoyed substantial freedom of action and pursued their own interests until the late second century. This thesis suggests that Western Asia Minor in this era was, in fact, a multi-polar world, where Rome—the distant hegemony—Rhodes and Pergamon—the regional powers—exercised influence simultaneously. The post-Apamea system formed an interactive network, and this thesis will analyse the interactions between the hegemony and regional powers, as well as between the poles and the Greeks in Western Asia Minor.

Supervisor

Hekster, O.J.

Nijf, van, O.M.

Faculty

Faculteit der Letteren