Studien zur Lebenssituation der Bevölkerung Ägyptens als Ursache der Revolten unter römischer Herrschaft

During the first three centuries of Roman rule in Egypt there were 18 revolts, amongst them two double ones. They were insurrections of natives against Rome, trouble between Greeks and Jews, between population groups in Alexandria, riots as a consequence of usurpations, in the context of the succession to the throne, uprisings of Jews and a local sect as well as rebellions of which no details are known. It is striking that only a single widespread revolt of the autochthonous population and only one of the entire people are attested, both during the reign of Diocletian, i. e. at a late date. Their reasons can be attributed to six fields, the economic [3] or political sphere [5], succession to the throne [1], ethnic [3], intrapopulation [2] and religious causes [1]. The acceptance of Roman rule may be explained by the Romans’ tolerance towards traditions, particularly religion, a reasonable tax policy, humane living conditions, late decline of the economy, moderate behaviour of the army, inhomogeneity of the population, and improvements as compared to Ptolemaic rule. Only the collapse of the currency around A. D. 270 brought about general misery and therefore uprise.