Research On The Relationship Between Roman Patrons And Greek Cities In The Middle And Late Republic

Patronage is a very important social relationship in ancient Rome.It is a bilateral,continuous and moral cooperative relationship which has a profound impact on the Roman society in order to ease the social stratum contradictions and maintain the steady social development.After the patronage system is established,it shows great impact on all aspects of the social lives of Roman people.With the expansion of Roman power,Roman generals,senators and administrators establish the patronage with the conquered Greek cities.The Greek cities and their Roman patrons should always assume their responsibilities to receive the mutual benefit in the system of patronage.their mutual communication and cooperation have a great influence on the transition of Roman society in the middle and late Republic.The dissertation includes three chapters.The first chapter introduces the early development of Roman patronage and discusses the definition of patronage in ancient society,its forms in the Regal period and early Republic.It also discusses this practice in the early communities and shows the background of the patronage between Greek cities and Roman patrons.The second chapter focuses on the political,economic and cultural patronage between Greek cities and Roman patrons in the middle and late Republic.The third chapter discusses the influence of the patronage between Greek cities and Roman patrons on Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire.This part includes patronage’s impact on the cultural-political identification,the relation between the decline of the Roman Republic and the practice of patronage,and the connection between patronage and the rise of euergetism.