THE SERVILE WARS: SEARCHING FOR PATTERNS IN THE MOTIVATION, METHOD AND RESULTS OF SLAVE REVOLTS IN ANCIENT ROME

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 4 Sayı: 7, 83 - 97, 07.01.2025

Tuna Kızılırmak

https://doi.org/10.60051/medbel.1580311

Öz

During the Republican era of Ancient Rome, slaves played a critical role within the state, society, and economy. This research examines the three major slave uprisings, known as the Servile Wars, which took place between 135 and 71 BCE, aiming to identify patterns in their motivations, methods, and outcomes. To discern these patterns, this study draws on accounts from ancient historians, including Diodorus Siculus, Appian, Plutarch, Sallust, and Frontinus. As a result, this work employs a comparative historical approach, analyzing the narratives of various ancient sources. Additionally, it reviews evolving attitudes toward these slave rebellions in both ancient and modern historiography. By investigating the motivations of key figures like Eunus and Spartacus, as well as the methods employed and outcomes achieved, this study seeks to uncover recurring patterns in the nature and impact of these slave revolts

Anahtar Kelimeler

Ancient Rome, Eunus, Slave Rebellions, the Servile Wars, Spartacus

Teşekkür

I am filled with immense gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Oğuz YARLIGAŞ, whose guidance and steadfast support illuminated each step of my research journey. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Asst. Prof. Kutlu AKALIN for his invaluable insights and generous spirit, which greatly enriched my work.

KÖLE SAVAŞLARI: ANTİK ROMA’DA KÖLE İSYANLARININ MOTİVASYONU, YÖNTEMİ VE SONUÇLARI BAKIMINDAN ÖRÜNTÜ ARAYIŞI

Öz

Antik Roma'nın Cumhuriyet döneminde köleler, devlet, toplum ve ekonomi içinde kritik bir rol oynamıştır. Bu araştırma, MÖ 135 ile 71 yılları arasında gerçekleşen ve Köle Savaşları olarak bilinen üç büyük köle ayaklanmasını inceleyerek bu olayların motivasyonları, yöntemleri ve sonuçlarındaki örüntüleri belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu örüntüleri belirlemek için çalışmada Diodorus Siculus, Appian, Plutarch, Sallust ve Frontinus gibi antik tarihçilerin anlatımlarına başvurulmaktadır. Sonuç olarak, bu araştırma, çeşitli antik kaynakların anlatılarını karşılaştırmalı tarihsel bir yaklaşımla analiz etmektedir. Ek olarak, bu çalışma hem antik hem de modern tarih yazımında bu köle isyanlarına yönelik değişen bakış açılarını incelemektedir. Eunus ve Spartaküs gibi önemli figürlerin motivasyonlarını, kullanılan yöntemleri ve elde edilen sonuçları araştırarak, bu köle isyanlarının doğası ve etkisi hakkında tekrar eden kalıpları ortaya çıkarmayı amaçlamaktadır

Anahtar Kelimeler

Antik Roma, Eunus, Köle İsyanları, Köle Savaşları, Spartacus

Kaynakça

• Appian. Civil Wars. Translated by Horace White. Accessed April 3, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Appian/Civil_Wars/1*.html.
• Athenaeus. Deipnosophistae, Book 6. Translated by Charles Burton Gulick. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Athenaeus/6E*.html.
• Bradley, Keith. Slavery and Society at Rome. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
• Bradley, Keith R. Slavery and Rebellion in the Roman World, 140-70 BC. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1989.
• Cicero, Marcus Tullius. The Speech of M. T. Cicero for P. Quinctius. Translated by C. D. Yonge. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.attalus.org/cicero/quinctius.html#nr24.
• Columella. De Re Rustica, Book 1. Edited by Harrison Boyd Ash. Accessed October 18, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Columella/de_Re_Rustica/1*.html.
• Diodorus Siculus. Bibliotheca Historica, Book 34/35. Translated by F. R. Walton. Accessed April 1, 2024. http://attalus.org/translate/diodorus34.html.
• Florus. Epitome of Roman History, Book 2, The Servile War. Translated by E. S. Forster. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Florus/Epitome/2B*.html#VII.
• Frontinus, Sextus Julius. Stratagems, Book 1. Translated by Charles E. Bennett. Accessed September 10, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Frontinus/Strategemata/1*.html.
• Frontinus, Sextus Julius. Stratagems, Book 2. Translated by Charles E. Bennett. Accessed October 3, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Frontinus/Strategemata/2*.html.
• Hopkins, Keith. Conquerors and Slaves. Vol. 1 of Sociological Studies in Roman History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978.
• Livy. History of Rome. Translated by Rev. Canon Roberts. Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0144%3Abook%3D32.
• Obsequens, Julius. Book of Prodigies. Translated by Alex Nice. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.attalus.org/translate/obsequens.html.
• Orosius, Paulus. Seven Books of History Against the Pagans. Translated by I.W. Raymond. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.attalus.org/info/orosius.html.
• Plutarch. The Life of Crassus. Translated by Bernadotte Perrin. Accessed April 7, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Crassus*.html.
• Sallust. Histories. Translated by J. C. Rolfe. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.attalus.org/translate/sallust.html.
• Shaw, Brent D., ed. Spartacus and the Slave Wars: A Brief History with Documents. The Bedford Series in History and Culture. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2001.
• Urbainczyk, Theresa. Slave Revolts in Antiquity. London: Acumen, 2008. Reprint, New York: Routledge, 2016.
• Varro. De Re Rustica, Book 2. Translated by W. D. Hooper and H. B. Ash. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Varro/de_Re_Rustica/2*.html#0.
• Vogt, Joseph. Ancient Slavery and the Ideal of Man. Translated by Thomas Wiedemann. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1974.