o Its literature and philosophy imitated Greek models, and Greek
tutors were highly valued.
o The Roman deities were merged syncretistically with the
Greek; Zeus’s equivalent, for example, was Jupiter.
o Practices of sexuality, particularly male bisexuality, were taken
over from Greece, although with different social valences.
• Safe provinces, such as Asia Minor, were governed by the Senate,
while dangerous provinces, such as Palestine, were ruled by Rome
through military prefects.
o The conquest of territory and the securing of safe boundaries
(as against the Parthians) was a constant Roman concern.
o A byproduct of conquest was slavery, which grew enormously
under the Romans and led to revolts, such as that of Spartacus
that took place in 73–71 B.C.E. That revolt had a tremendous
impact on the Roman psyche because it seemed to threaten the
very structure of society. As a consequence, another byproduct
of military rule and expansion was a willingness to violently
suppress local uprisings by the populace.
o Military colonies (peopled by veterans) and military
encampments helped secure internal order.
o Heavy taxation of the provinces enriched the city of Rome and
helped pacify its huge population.
• Roman rule did not please everyone, as witnessed by the revolts
among the Jews in 67–135 C.E., but the Romans’ efficient imperial
order had positive benefits for a new cult.
o The system of roads that were meant for military and
commercial use enabled travel and communication through
personal contact and letters.