Asia

• Asia was a Roman Province located in the Aegean Region of modern Turkey.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history:
  • 550 BCE Construction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Acquisition by Rome (133 BCE): 
  • 190 BCE Battle of Magnesia: Antiochus III the Great was defeated by Roman Armies.
  • 188 BCE Treaty of Apamea, placed the Kingdom under a client King at Pergamum
  • 133 BCE Attalus III of Pergamum bequeathed the Kingdom to Rome and it became a Roman Province.
• Timeline of this Province:
• Under the Republic:
  • 123 BCE Gaius Gracchus passed a law in the Roman Senate permitting members of the Equestrian Order to collect taxes in Asia. This led to Romans lending money to cities and communities to pay their taxes. The extortionate rates resulted in defaults leading to Roman seizure of land and thus taking over the Province.
  • 88 BCE Mithridates VI of Pontus occupied Asia by encouraging a mass revolt against Roman practices, a slaughter of Roman individuals with between 80,000 to 150,000 deaths.
  • 85 BCE Sulla defeated Mithridates and divided Asia into 11 city based districts to better control it.
• After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
  • In 27 BCE Augustus reformed Asia into a Province of self-governing cities responsible for their own economy, taxes, and laws and programme of public buildings.
  • 165-180 CE The Antonine Plague (Plague of Galen) of smallpox or measles. This started a slow decline of this Province.
• After Diocletian’s Reforms of 297 CE:
  • Asia was divided into 7 smaller provinces.
• After Death of Theodosius in 395 CE:
  • It became part of the Eastern Empire.
  • 401 CE Temple of Artemis at Ephesus destroyed by a mob under St John Chrysostom.
  • 614 CE The City partially collapsed during an earthquake.
• Famous Persons from this Province:
• Chief archeological Finds:
  • Ephesus, Troy
• Historic Battle Sites:

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Ephesus
• Chief Cities:
  • Bergama (Pergamon), Izmir (Smyrna), Adramyttium (No trace left), Cyzicus (Ruins), Suhut (Synnada), Apamea (Ruins), Miletus (Ruins), Bodrum (Halicarnassus), Laodicea, Troas.
• Location Today:
  • Aegean Region, Turkey
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Bithynia et Pontus (North), Galatia (East), Lycia et Pamphylia (South).
• Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Coast:
    • Mediterranean climate. Summers: Hot, dry. Winters: mild, cool and wet.
  • Interior:
    • Continental climate. Summers: hot, dry. Winters: cold, snowy.
• Main Geographical features:
  • A region of Plains and Valleys descending to the Aegean Sea. A very fertile region.
  • The Coastline included the Sea of Marmara and the Hellespont then the Aegean as far as Rhodes.
• Main Rivers:
• Mountain Ranges:
• Islands:
  • Rhodes was attached to Asia under Vespasian (60-79 CE).

3. Political Organisation

• Province Type:
  • Proconsular Province
• Governor:
  • Proconsul
• Tribes and Population:
• Language:

4. Military Organisation

• Legions:
  • Units located in Apamea and Amorium.
  • Auxiliary cohorts located in Phrygian Eumeneia.
    • The 3rd century CE saw rebellions against military units in the rural regions.
• Navy:
• Defensive Works:
• Main Threats:

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
• Agriculture and Fishing:
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
• Waterways:
• Ports:
• Ancient Trade Routes:
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• Peaceful and wealthy Province, with minor rebellions in the 3rd century CE. No Legions were permanently stationed there, but small units were placed in certain towns to prevent rebellions.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

• Council of Laodicea (381 CE)
  • This Council ruled that Hymns and Psalms were to be sung by the Clergy and not the Congregation (Laity), a Rule which remained unchallenged until c. 1,500 CE.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

Asia (Capital Ephesus)