Did Imperial Rome Disarm Her Subjects
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3939253 |
|---|---|
| Authors | P A Brunt (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1975 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 260 |
| Publication date | 1975-01-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Phoenix (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0031-8299 • E-ISSN: 1929-4883 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/1087619 |
| OpenAlex | W2332359471 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
IN HIs Roman Social Relations 50 B.C.-A.D. 284 (New Haven and London 1974) Professor Ramsay Macmullen presents a sombre picture of condition of lower orders in Roman empire, which in general appears to me to represent truth only too well. But among many suggestions he throws out which provoke reflection, at least one may challenge dissent. In his sketch of Roman taxation he urges that resistance movements it caused reveal in rough outline a common pattern of desperation: first, initial conquest by Romans; next, rapid confiscation of all hidden weapons; and then assessments and recurrent spasms of protest against weight of tribute harshly calculated and still more harshly exacted. His belief that even in early empire taxation was heavier than is commonly assumed seems to me justifiable, but that is not my subject here. Is it right that disarmament, indeed rapid disarmament, was normally first act of conquerors as a prelude to taxation? Macmullen founds this claim on (a) a few texts relating to disarmament of particular peoples and (b) an interpretation of law or laws de vi, which in his judgement show that disarmament was universal.' By implication, it was also permanent. There is perhaps some risk that this view will gain credit, unless rebutted. A fuller survey of evidence suggests to me that disarmament was far from normal and, where attempted, without lasting effect. (a) Macmullen cites a statement of Strabo that the Gauls had laid down their arms and were now compelled to practise arts of cultivation.2 But these words, taken along with other passages in which Strabo cele
Annulment · Confiscation · Disarmament · Dissent · Empire · Interpretation (philosophy · Judgement · Political science · Politics · Roman Empire · Treaty · Tribute · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classical Studies and Legal History · Classics · History · Law · Philosophy
| Citations per year | 0.13 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1981 - 2023 (43) |
| Highly cited | No |