Le relazioni politiche di Roma con l'Egitto dalle origini al 50 a. C. by Barbagallo
"Le relazioni politiche di Roma con l'Egitto dalle origini al 50 a. C." by Barbagallo is a historical study written in the early 20th century. The work examines the diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between Rome and Ptolemaic Egypt, embedding each episode within the broader logic of Roman foreign policy. It advances a critical reassessment of idealized narratives about Roman virtue and “civilizing” conquest, emphasizing material interests and power politics. The opening
of the study sets out a historiographical correction: earlier monographs are faulted for stringing facts without explaining them through Rome’s evolving foreign-policy aims, and the author pledges a rigorous, source-based critique of Rome’s motives and myths. He first sketches Ptolemaic Egypt’s enviable agricultural wealth, industry (notably papyrus), trade networks, social structure, and cultured Alexandrian life, then contrasts this with Rome’s declining smallholding agriculture, scant industry, and militarized, predatory expansion. Against this backdrop come the first contacts: Ptolemy II’s embassy to Rome, likely driven by political caution and commercial interests, followed by a reciprocal mission and a practical, non-aggression friendship with trade provisions. In the Punic era, Egypt mediates and supplies grain to Rome in crisis, while Rome renews ties and Egypt cautiously seeks influence in Greek affairs via Roman approval. The narrative then dismantles the later legend that Rome acted as guardian for the young Ptolemy V, showing instead a web of embassies and threats aimed at Philip V and Antiochus III. As the Second Macedonian War unfolds, Rome’s settlements prioritize “Greek freedom” while largely ignoring Egypt’s claims, leaving it stripped of most Aegean and Asia Minor holdings, even as Antiochus seizes Coele-Syria and advances through Asia Minor. The section closes with Rome confronting Antiochus at Lysimachia, staking claims that reveal its real concern: checking Syrian power in Europe rather than restoring Egyptian possessions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Le relazioni politiche di Roma con l'Egitto dalle origini al 50 a. C.
Original Publication
Roma: Loescher, 1901.
Credits
Barbara Magni and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library)
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 42.8 (College-level). Difficult to read.
