Having subdued Macedonia, Rome proclaimed Greece a free
state. But this "freedom" really meant subjection, as was amply
proved when some of the Greek cities rose in revolt against Roman domination.
The heavy hand of Roman vengeance especially descended on Corinth, at this time
one of the most beautiful cities of the world. In 146 B.C., the same year in
which the destruction of Carthage occurred, Corinth was sacked and burned to
the ground. [10] The fall of Corinth may be said to mark the final extinction
of Greek liberty. Though the Hellenic cities and states were allowed to rule
themselves, they paid tribute and thus acknowledged the supremacy of Rome. A
century later, Greece became in name, as well as in fact, a province of the
Roman Empire.
[10] Corinth offered too good a site to remain long in
ruins. Resettled in 46 B.C. as a Roman colony, it soon became one of the great
cities in the empire. It was to the Corinthians that St Paul wrote two of his Epistles.
ROME AND SYRIA
Rome, in the meantime, was drawn into a conflict with the
kingdom of Syria. That Asiatic power proved to be no more capable than
Macedonia of checking the Roman advance. The Syrian king had to give up the
greater part of his possessions in Asia Minor. The western part of the
peninsula, together with the Greek cities on the coast, was formed in 133 B.C.
into the province of Asia. Thus the same year that witnessed the complete establishment
of Roman rule in Spain saw Rome gain her first possessions at the opposite end
of the Mediterranean.
POLITICAL SITUATION IN 133 B.C.
Roman supremacy over the Mediterranean world was now all
but complete. In 264 B.C. Rome had been only one of the five great
Mediterranean states. In 133 B.C. no other power existed to match its strength
with that of Rome. To her had fallen in the West the heritage of Carthage, in
the East the heritage of Alexander. Rome had built up this mighty empire at a
terrible cost in blood and treasure. Let us see what use she was to make of it.
