21st Annual Student Research Conference
The Roman Destruction of Corinth:
The Preceding Events, Aftermath, and a Military Examination of the Achaean War
Gabriel D. Baker
Prof. Martha L. Rose, Faculty Mentor
When the Roman consul Lucius Mummius razed Corinth to the ground, he did much more than destroy a Greek city. The consequences of this momentous event would be felt for centuries, as this was the final resistance of an independent ancient Greece and the beginning of unimpeded Roman hegemony in the region. This paper uses ancient sources, archaeological evidence, and the work of modern historians to examine the historical context of Corinth's fall as well as the battle and siege that culminated in the city's destruction. The exploration of ancient warfare in this context is a vital component here, due to the fact that our ancient sources are relatively silent concerning the military conflict that proceeded Corinth's fall. Studying in Greece during the summer of 2007 made the importance of Corinth's destruction abundantly clear, as the Roman ruins found throughout the country testify to the totality of the Greek defeat.
Keywords: Ancient History, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Military History
Topic(s):History
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 36-4
Location: OP 2111
Time: 2:00