TRADE, STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATION ON THE ROMAN NORTH-EAST FRONTIER

Abstract

The reorganisation of Pontos that Pompey carried out after defeating Mithradates VI Eupator has traditionally been seen as an example of enlightened Ro­man policy towards the provincials, which included the introduction of civic self-government and the pro­motion of commercial life. These goals Pompey at­tempted to achieve by establishing five urban com­muni­ties along an existing east-west artery known as the “Pontic road”. A closer examination of the textual evidence and the actual remains of the “Pontic Road”, however, indicate that the road had not been a trade route of any significance before the Roman conquest and that the motives behind Pompey’s dispositions were of a strategic, rather than of a commercial nature.

Keywords

• Pontos • Roman Policy • Pompey • Routes • Urbanization

ROMA’NIN KUZEY DOĞU SINIRINDA TİCARET, STRATEJİ VE ULAŞIM

Abstract

Mithradates VI Eupator’un yenilgiye uğratılması­nın ardından Pompeius tarafından Pontos’un yeniden düzenlenmesi, eyaletlerdeki kent otonomluğuna mü­dahale ve ticari yaşamın tesisi hususundaki Roma Po­li­tikasını aydınlatması bakımından örnek teşkil et­mek­tedir. Pompeius, “Pontos yolu” olarak bilinen ve doğu-batı istikametinde hâlihazırda bulunan anayol üzerine beş kent kurarak söz konusu amaçları hayata geçirmeye çalışmıştır. Daha detaylı bakıldığında yazılı kaynaklar ve “Pontos yolu”nun kalıntıları söz konusu yolun Roma işgalinden önce ticari bir güzergâh olma­dığını ve Pompeius’un düzenlemelerinin de ticari ol­maktan ziyade stratejik olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Pontos • Roma Politikası • Pompeius • Rotalar • Kentleşme

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