Sardinia

  • Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean.
  • It was a Roman Province and is now a Region of Italy.

1. History

  • Pre-Roman history:
    • Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily.
    • Sardinia is an Island full of Dolmens and Menhirs dating from the Bronze Age (3,200-500 BCE).
      • Necropolis of Pranu Muttedu:
        • This is a large concentration of 50 or 60 Dolmens which exist along with tombs, at Goni in Gerrei, Sardinia, and which have astronomical alignments.
      • Monte d’Accoddi
        • Near Portotorres is ‘Monte d’Accoddi’, a huge terraced altar with an Inclined Ramp resembling a Ziggurat.
      • Another group of about 100 Dolmens is located in the centre of Northern Sardinia.
      • There are also about 40 well Temples in Sardinia.
    • Nuragic Civilisation
      • Originally settled by Etrurians in the East and Iberians in the West, who merged to form the Nuragic civilisation by 1,800 BCE concentrated in the inland central region known as Barbagia.
      • They produced the ‘Nuraghe’ (Nur meant ‘Hollow Heap’ in their language) roofed by a false dome, the ‘Thoros’, of which 7,000 examples exist today in Sardinia.
      • The Nuraghe consist of conical stone towers, having a double outer wall, with a spiral staircase inside leading above the corbelled domed roof.
      • The fortresses were built to protect the local community, often with additional protective towers, ramparts, walls and trap-doors. The most famous example is Su Nuraxi in Barumini.
    • 1000 BCE The Phoenicians established thriving trading ports around the coast. These were Bithia, Bosa, Caralis, Nora (ruins), Olbia, Sulcis, Tharros (ruins) and Torres.
    • 509 BCE Carthaginian Province
      • The native Sardinians attacked these cities. Carthage sent an army who defeated the locals, and established Sardinia as Carthaginian Province for 271 years.
  • Acquisition by Rome:
    • 238 BCE Occupied peacefully by Rome at the invitation of the Sardinian Mercenaries who rebelled against Carthage during the First Punic War (264-241 BCE).
    • 238 BCE Became a Province of the Roman Republic.
  • Timeline of this Province:
  • Under the Roman Republic:
    • 235-111 BCE A series of revolts against Roman Rule frequently broke out requiring Rome to send an Army to quell each rebellion.
    • 177/6 BCE Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus suppressed a revolt using two Legions.
    • c. 56 BCE Marcus Emilius Scaurus, Propraetor, was accused by the leading Sards of illegal taxation – Crimen Frutarium. Cicero successfully defended him by discrediting the Sard witnesses. He achieved this by accusing them of being untrustworthy, comparing them to the Punics who could not be trusted ‘Fides Punica’ (the trustworthiness of the Punics) which was a famous saying in Rome, memories of the Punic Wars remained fresh in Roman minds.
  • After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms of 297 CE:
  • After the death of Theodosius (395 CE) and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
  • Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Chief archeological Finds:
    • Amphitheatre of Cagliari, Ruins of Nora and Tharros.
    • Roman Shipwrecks of Olbia.

2. Geography

  • Capital City:
  • Chief Cities:
    • Austis (Augustis Forum), Chia (Bithia), Bosa, Irgoli (Fanum Carisi), Usellus (Colonia Julia Uselis), Fordongianus (Forum Traianus), Nora (ruins), Olbia, Sulcis, Tharros (ruins) and Torres, Porto Torres (Turris Lybissonis), Nuragus (Valentia).
  • Location Today:
    • Sardinia.
  • Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
    • Corsica to the North, Rome is 217 nautical miles east of Cagliari.
  • Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Mediterranean climate.
    • Summers: Hot and Dry, an average 28°C on the coast in July and August.
    • Winters: Mild with plenty of rain, falling as snow on the peaks.
    • The Mistral, a dry wind from France blows predominantly from the Northwest, but can cause sudden storms.
  • Main Geographical features:
    • Second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily.
    • Rocky coastline with many headlands and inlets, and a few bays and islands.
  • Main Rivers:
    • R. Tirso (Thyrsus), R. Coghinas, R. Flumendosa
  • Mountain Ranges:
    • Several mountain ranges separated by wide valleys and flatlands, form two thirds of Sardinia.
    • Gennargentu Range in the centre. The highest peak is Punta la Marmora 6,017 ft (1,834m). The Monte Limbara Range in the Northeast, highest peak 4,468 ft (1,362m). The Marghine and Goceano Range (Highest Peak 4,130 ft (1,259m), The Monte Albo massif, highest peak 1,3,467 ft (1,057m). In the Southeast, The Sette Fratelli Range, the Sulcis Range, and the Monte Linas, highest peak 4,055 ft (1,236m).
  • Islands:
    • Carloforte, Sant’ Antioco.

3. Political Organisation

  • Province Type:
  • Governor:
  • Tribes and Population:
    • Nuragic Civilisation inland in the Barbagia region.
    • Romans in the coastal towns and ports.
  • Language:
    • Latin and Punic (Punic inscriptions were still being made in 2nd century CE)

4. Military Organisation:

  • Legions:
    • Cohors I Sardorum
  • Navy:
    • Olbia
      • Olbia was the main naval base.
      • It was the fourth source of sailors to the Navy Base of Misenum, after Egypt, Asia and Thracia with their bigger populations.
  • Defensive Works:
  • Main Threats:

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports to Rome:
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
    • Animals: pigs, cattle, sheep.
    • Crops: Grain, olives, vines, saltpans
  • Manufacturing:
  • Mines:
  • Sardinia was third in Mining Production, after Spain and Brittania: Mining production for the whole Roman period (674 yrs) was 600,000 Tons of Lead and 1,000 Tons of Silver.
    • Mines of Sulcis: Ingortosu and Planusartu.
    • Mines of the Sarrabus: Lead, Silver and Copper.
  • Mints:

6. Transport

  • Roads:
    • A Portu Tibulas-Caralis (along the east coast)
      • Coclearia-Portus Luguidon-Cagliari
    • A Tibulas Sulcis (along the west coast)
      • Bosa-Cornus-Othoca-Neapolis-Metella-Sulcis
  • Waterways: None.
  • Ports:
    • Bithia, Bosa, Cagliari, Caralis, Nora (ruins), Olbia, Sulcis, Tharros (ruins)
  • Ancient Trade Routes:
    • Strait of Bonifacio
      • Known as the Fretum Gallicum, it was the Main trade route between Iberia and Rome. It has strong currents and Islands which makes navigation challenging.
  • Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

  • Very important Province along with Sardinia, and ruled jointly by one Governor.
  • Under the Roman Republic, there were continuous uprisings by the native population.
  • Under the Empire, it became an immensely wealthy Province and an important source of Silver for coin. It was the third most important Mining Region in the Roman Empire, after Iberia and Britannia.
  • The Strait of Bonifacio between the islands and the Sea Lanes between Corsica and Elba controlled all the Shipping from Rome to Iberia and Gaul.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

  • A Christian community had been established by the early third century CE.
  • A Bishop existed by the end of the third century CE.
  • Bishop Lucifer of Cagliari (d.370/1 CE)
    • He developed the ‘Luciferian Heresy’ in which he opposed Arianism. He was banished by Constantius II (337-361 CE) to the Thebais Desert in the Valley of the Nile and died c. 371 CE.
    • He is considered a Saint in Sardinia and has a church dedicated to him, San Lucifero in Cagliari (established c. 1660 CE)

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

 

Sardinia

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238 BCE
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