'Genocide' and Rome, 343-146 BCE : state expansion and the social dynamics of annihilation
As the nascent power of Rome grew to dominance over the Mediterranean world in the Middle Republic, they carried out mass killing, mass enslavement, and urban annihilation. In doing so, they showed an intention to destroy other groups, therefore committing genocide. This study looks at the kinds of destruction enacted by Romans between 343 BCE and 146 BCE, using a novel application of definitions and frameworks of analysis from the field of Genocide Studies. It proposes typologies through which the genocidal behaviours of the Romans can be explored and described. Mass killing, enslavement, and urban annihilation normally occurred in the context of siege warfare, when the entire population became legitimate targets. Initial indiscriminate killing could be followed by the enslavement of the survivors and burning of their settlement. While genocide is a valid historiographical tool of analysis, Roman behaviours were distinct from modern patterns of mass killing in lacking a substantial component of racial or ethnic motivation. These phenomena were complex and varied, and the utter destruction of groups not regularly intended. Roman genocidal violence was a normative, but not typical, adaptation of the Romans
Colwill, David
D051 Ancient History
'Genocide' and Rome, 343-146 BCE : state expansion and the social dynamics of annihilation. As the nascent power of Rome grew to dominance over the Mediterranean world in the Middle Republic, they carried out mass killing, mass enslavement, and urban annihilation. In doing so, they showed an intention to destroy other groups, therefore committing genocide. This study looks at the kinds of destruction enacted by Romans between 343 BCE and 146 BCE, using a novel application of definitions and frameworks of analysis from the field of Genocide Studies. It proposes typologies through which the genocidal behaviours of the Romans can be explored and described. Mass killing, enslavement, and urban annihilation normally occurred in the context of siege warfare, when the entire population became legitimate targets. Initial indiscriminate killing could be followed by the enslavement of the survivors and burning of their settlement. While genocide is a valid historiographical tool of analysis, Roman behaviours were distinct from modern patterns of mass killing in lacking a substantial component of racial or ethnic motivation. These phenomena were complex and varied, and the utter destruction of groups not regularly intended. Roman genocidal violence was a normative, but not typical, adaptation of the Romans
genocide rome state expansion social_dynamic annihilation nascent power rome grow dominance mediterranean_world middle republic carry mass killing mass enslavement urban annihilation show intention destroy group therefore commit genocide study_look kind destruction enact romans bce bce use novel application definition frameworks analysis field genocide studies proposes typology behaviour romans explore described mass killing enslavement urban annihilation normally occur context siege warfare entire population become legitimate target initial indiscriminate killing could follow enslavement survivor burn settlement genocide valid historiographical tool analysis roman behaviours distinct modern pattern mass kill lack substantial component racial ethnic motivation phenomenon complex vary utter destruction group regularly intend roman violence normative typical adaptation romans