A Study Of The Province Of Roman Egypt (30 B.C.-A.D.68)

In 30 BC, Octavian (later Augustus) defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, annexed Ptolemaic Egypt. Because of its important grain-supply for Rome and its strategic location which was easily defensible, Egypt was highly valued by Augustus, and was made a special Principate Province. The province of Egypt was under the complete control of the emperor, while the senators were forbidden to enter. Since then, the Roman rule in Egypt had brought a series of changes in the political, economic, military, religious and other areas. This thesis will do some research on the administrative and judicial system, economic system, military policy, religious situation of early Roman Egypt, especially from 30 BC to AD 68, in order to analyse the effects which Roman rule had made on Egypt and the stability and prosperity of the whole empire.This thesis is mainly devided into four chapters.The first chapter explores the management measures from the perspective of administrative and judicial areas. Rome had started to infiltrate into Egypt before the conquest. Through the establishment of the alliance with Egypt, stationing senior officials, agents and other ways, Egypt was gradually made a Roman vassal. This gradual penetration reduced the hostility of Egyptian people to the upcoming Roman rule. After the conquest of Egypt, Augustus made Egypt as his own property, appointed equestrian prefects directly responsible to him, and forbade senators to enter Egypt. Rome set up in Egypt a complex hierarchical bureaucracy, in which the functions of the officials of the same level were often easily mixed up, administrative officials also supervising judicial affairs.The second chapter deals with the economic structural adjustment in the areas of land ownership, population policy, taxation, and monetary system. Egypt was a major source of food for the city of Rome. In order to maximize the wealth seized from Egypt, the Roman rulers re-adjusted the land system, to encourage the development of private lands; improved the census system, to insure the collection of poll tax; reformed the monetary system, pushing cash to replace the barter trade through taxes and other means; encouraged the development of the banks, and promoted the circulation of money and goods.The third chapter discusses the military policy which was adopted to ensure security and stability. As early as the Triumvirate period, the Roman army had already penetrated into Egypt through the establishment of the "allies" with Egypt, to "protect" Egypt. After the conquest, Roman legions and auxiliary troops were stationed in Egypt, in order to maintain security and stability in border areas of Egypt. Most of the original Ptolemaic army soldiers were incorporated into the Roman army, and some unstable regions and population groups were disarmed. In order to recruit enough soldiers, the Roman army started the recruitment in local areas. Soldiers who demobilized from the Roman army would be granted the Roman citizenship and a number of allotments. Roman army were also used to maintain social order and engage in productive labor.The fourth chapter describes the religious development of the Roman Egypt. After the Roman conquest, the traditional religion in Egypt were maintained, so the Greco-Roman gods and the gods of Egypt coexisted in harmony, and produced some degree of communication and integration. But there were profound contradictions between the Jewish monotheism and the Greek and Roman polytheism, often leading to violent clashes between Jews and Greeks. In order to establish the supreme authority of the emperor, the Roman emperor worship in Egypt was established.