Barbagallo, Corrado
"Le relazioni politiche di Roma con l'Egitto dalle origini al 50 a. C." by Barbagallo is a historical study written in the early 20th century. The work examines the diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between Rome and Ptolemaic Egypt, embedding each episode within the broader logic of Roman foreign policy. It advances a critical reassessment of idealized narratives about Roman virtue and “civilizing” conquest, emphasizing material interests and power politics. The opening of the study sets out a historiographical correction: earlier monographs are faulted for stringing facts without explaining them through Rome’s evolving foreign-policy aims, and the author pledges a rigorous, source-based critique of Rome’s motives and myths. He first sketches Ptolemaic Egypt’s enviable agricultural wealth, industry (notably papyrus), trade networks, social structure, and cultured Alexandrian life, then contrasts this with Rome’s declining smallholding agriculture, scant industry, and militarized, predatory expansion. Against this backdrop come the first contacts: Ptolemy II’s embassy to Rome, likely driven by political caution and commercial interests, followed by a reciprocal mission and a practical, non-aggression friendship with trade provisions. In the Punic era, Egypt mediates and supplies grain to Rome in crisis, while Rome renews ties and Egypt cautiously seeks influence in Greek affairs via Roman approval. The narrative then dismantles the later legend that Rome acted as guardi…
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