ProQuest Dissertations - Historia Antigua

Figure 1.1:The Statist Model ofRoman ColonizationAssumed Benefits to Rome:• More Peaceful Locals• Control of Trade/Travel Routes• Access to New Resources• Eases Restless Masses in Rome• Satisfies Land HungerProblems with Model:• How does colony pacify locals?• Does the colony also benefit fromcontrol of trade/resources?• Who exactly is sent to colonies?• How does the landscape affectthe colonists?ColonialLandscapeWhen E.T. Salmon wrote his book on Roman colonization in the Republic, thegeneral point of view was that Rome founded colonies to mitigate unrest both within thecity and among enemies throughout Italy. The variations in the foundation process andthe role of both the commissioners and the colonists were of less importance thandetermining the political and military agenda of Rome. Bispham has recently noted thatthis model of statist colonial activity, wherein the colony had strong ties to its mothercity,does not work for the early and middle Republic. 37Figure 1.1 represents theassumptions behind a statist colonial foundation in a Roman setting. Glinister, also,denies a Roman statist colonial policy, especially in terms of spreading religion:"Personally, I doubt that the Roman state had any coherent policy for extending37 Bispham (2006), p. 74. This is not to say that Bispham denies the Roman state an important role incolonization (p. 76).12