Roman Period of Egypt

The Egypt passes under the Roman domination in -30. It preserves a particular status during all the Roman Empire. The country remains one of the principal attics with Blé for Rome and the continuous Religion Egyptian to radiate in the whole of the basin the Mediterranean ancient N. The country benefits from the pax romana during several tens of years.

History

After the death of Cléopâtre {{VII}}, Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire, controlled by a prefect chosen by the emperor and not by a governor of the senatorial order. The heritage of Ptolémées is however not completely unobtrusive: the Greek remains a current language in the administration. There is no massive colonization of Egypt by the Romans. The latter respect and even adopt the Pantheon and the worship Egyptians, even if the worship of the emperor and Rome gradually introduced east.

First Roman prefects in Egypt:

Gaius Cornelius Gallus ;
Gaius Aelius Gallus ;
Gaius Petronius.

After the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70, Alexandria becomes one of the great centers of immigration and Jewish studies . Under Trajan, a revolt of the Jews of Alexandria involves the suppression of their privileges.

Hadrian visit several times Egypt and founds the town of Antinoupolis in memory of his/her young lover Antinoüs who had drowned in the the Nile. Under Marcus Aurelius, an important revolt bursts, allotted to the boukoloi , the herdsmen of the Delta of the Nile. This revolt undoubtedly finds its causes partly in the problems which the province has. The risings of the Nile were weak, the epidemic known as of the " Plague antonine " touch the province and one attends an escape of many peasants vis-a-vis the tax requirements. The revolt bursts towards 169 and seems to culminate in 172, it was followed several repressions on behalf of the Romans, but also of a remission of tax. One could see during this time the end of Egyptian prosperity. In 175, Avidius Cassius, which directed the Roman forces during the revolt, declares itself emperor and is recognized by the armies of Syria and Egypt. The usurper is finally killed and the emperor restores peace after a visit in Alexandria. Another revolt bursts in 193 when Pescennius Niger is proclaimed emperor with died of Pertinax. Later, the emperor Septime Sévère gives a Constitution to the town of Alexandria.

The emperor Caracalla (211/217) grants the Roman citizenship to the free Egyptians, as with all the other inhabitants of the Empire.

The 3rd century is marked by a series of usurpations and wars, in Egypt as in the whole of the Roman Empire. In 272, the queen of Palmyre, Zénobie conquers Egypt temporarily. Two generals based in Egypt, Probus and Domitius Domitianus, carry out revolts and become emperors. The emperor Dioclétien reprent in hand Egypt and reorganizes the province at the end of the 3rd century.

Dynasty of the Roman Emperors

The Dynastie of the Roman Emperors in Egypt is rather fuzzy. With the fall of Ptolémées, the Egyptian traditions will remain some time in activity, and the Pharaonic religion will be always the rule, and will be the single bond connecting the Egyptians of Djéser to the Egyptians of Hadrian.

If Egypt is important with the eyes of the Romans, it is above all because the country, with Tunisia, is the attic with corn of the empire. Egypt belongs personally to the emperor, and not to the Senate. The Roman epoch is one ashamed enough period for the Egyptians, considered as basic people category. They endure difficult living conditions.

Temples will be built, or the Romans will embellish or complete the temples started with Ptolémées. Art at this time is coarse and without comparison with the time of Séthi. Thus will be built the town of Antinoupolis by the Romain Hadrian, the kiosk of Hadrian (or of Trajan?) with Philae, the temple of Dendérah embellished by Auguste, several Mammisi, etc

Pharaon is the son of the gods, and without this king d' Égypte, there is only disorder. The Empereur will be represented, like Ptolémées, with the Egyptian mode, he must be submitted spiritually to the people, although it makes fun well to respect the tradition, except some exceptions.

After 391, date of closing of the pagan temples, large religious upheaval appear: the Christianisme takes its rise, but will even allure really the country only as from the 5th century of the 6th century.

The Roman Empire of occident is not any more in 476, date where Romulus Augustule abdicates. It does not remain whereas that of Orient, whose center is Byzance, or Constantinople, civilization mixing Greek and Roman tradition, although an Eastern tendency is formed definitively as from the 7th century.

Egypt is then directed by a prefect sent by Byzance, which controls since Alexandria.

After the end of the worship of Isis on Philae, Egyptian civilization dies, dropping its history in the lapse of memory until the arrival from Napoleon Bonaparte at the 19th century.

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