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Rome and the Distant East ROME AND THE DISTANT EAST: TRADE ROUTES TO THE ANCIENT LANDS OF ARABIA, INDIA AND CHINA This page intentionally left blank Rome and the Distant East Trade Routes to the Ancient Lands of Arabia, India and China Raoul McLaughlin Continuum UK Continuum US Th e Tower Building 80 Maiden Lane 11 York Road Suite 704 London SE1 7NX New York, NY 10038 www.continuumbooks.com Copyright © Raoul McLaughlin 2010 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission from the publishers. First published 2010 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 9781847252357 Typeset by Pindar NZ, Auckland, New Zealand Printed and bound by MPG Books Group Ltd For my parents William John McLaughlin and Elizabeth Terry McLaughlin This page intentionally left blank Acknowledgements Th is book is based on a doctoral thesis completed at Queen’s University Belfast in 2006. When I was looking for a place to study Eastern trade I applied to many universities, but none could accommodate a subject so broad and ambitious. Th is work could only have been written in Belfast and I greatly appreciate how I was allowed to follow my academic interests under constructive direction and encouragement. I would like to thank my doctoral supervisor Dr John Curran, for without his guidance and support I would not have had the opportunity to investigate this subject. I would also like to thank Professor Brian Campbell and Dr Colin Adams for agreeing to be my doctoral examiners and acknowledge how much I have benefi ted from their advice. I was educated at Lagan College in Belfast, the fi rst cross-community integrated school to be established in Northern Ireland. Th e college was founded with the aim of giving young people the opportunity to understand and respect all cultural and religious backgrounds without the divisions of race or social class. I have come to realize how skilfully the teaching staff , led by the principal Dr Brian Lambkin, promoted this ethos among us, without ever discouraging independent thought or undermining the social, or political, views of each individual. I have remained in contact with my school friends throughout my time at university. I especially thank Jenny Kirkwood for helping me with modern language translations and Mawuli Amoaku for off ering me the opportunity to visit China. Th e early stages of my doctoral research were paid for by the Northern Ireland Department of Education and Learning, but I have funded subsequent study from my own resources. Queen’s University Belfast has hosted both my under- graduate study and my postgraduate research. I greatly value my university and I respect the skills and attitudes of its people, who have never discouraged me or disparaged my ideas. In Belfast, Ancient Historians are able to study in the same department as Social Anthropologists and Modern Historians. In this environ- ment, history has a global context and the study of distant cultures has a distinct value. Doctor John Curran and Professor David Whitehead have given me the opportunity to teach tutorial classes in Republican Roman and Classical Greek history at the university. Th is experience has been invaluable and my position at Queen’s has given me access to library resources and research materials that I would not otherwise have been able to acquire. Th is has permitted me to pursue my studies long enough to complete this book. I would like to acknowledge my fellow ancient historians Chris McCoubrey and Jonathan Eton. Th ey have off ered me practical help and because they are scholars of the Roman military, our conversations have always been lively and interesting. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In particular Jonathan Eton has read early versions of my manuscript and has been able to provide valuable constructive criticism. Shaun McDaid is studying modern Ulster history, but he has always off ered me support. Claire Rush, who has a background in Irish history, has also obtained rare books on my behalf and for this I owe her a debt of gratitude. As a student of Social Anthropology Gemma Wieberg uniquely understands the complexities of human society and I have valued her insights. This book is dedicated to my parents William and Elizabeth McLaughlin. Th ey have had to accept that turning my doctoral research into a book has meant fi nancial hardship and my father has worked beyond retirement age to off er me assistance. I must thank my brother Leon for taking the time and trouble to draft my maps and check my ancient references. My whole family, especially my sister Th ayna, have given me immeasurable support and encouragement. To all the above, I acknowledge receipt of your kindness and consideration. Without you this book would not have been possible. Raoul McLaughlin Belfast June 2009 Contents Illustrations xi Abbreviations xiii Introduction: Rome and the Distant East 1 1 Ancient Evidence for Eastern Contacts 7 2 Roman Egypt and the Sea Routes to India 23 3 Rome and the Arabian Trade Routes 61 4 Trade Routes through Asia and the Silk Road Connection 83 5 Diplomatic Contacts with the Distant East 111 6 Th e Economic Impact on the Roman Empire 141 Appendix A: Th e Products of the Roman Empire 179 Appendix B: Eastern imports into the Roman Empire 181 Appendix C: Th e Prices of Eastern Goods 182 Notes 183 Concerning the Ancient Sources 219 Select Bibliography 220 Index 231 This page intentionally left blank Illustrations Between pages xiv and xix. Maps 1 Th e empires and territories of the Ancient World (fi rst century AD). 2 Th e Indian Ocean (fi rst century AD). 3 Th e Middle East (fi rst century AD). 4 Strabo’s world view (early fi rst century AD). 5 Pliny’s world view based on details in his Natural History (mid fi rst century AD). 6 Claudius Ptolemy’s world view (mid second century AD). Between pages 108 and 109. Plates 1 A group of Romans assembled near a merchant ship to hear a speech by the Emperor Trajan (illustration drawn from Trajan’s Column). 2 Detail from the Peutinger Map showing the Roman Temple of Augustus at Muziris in Tamil India. 3 A Palmyrene relief showing wealthy merchants leading a camel. 4 A gold coin of the king Kushan Huvishka. Th e reverse shows the god Pharro (Hermes–Mercury) holding a purse. 5 A Gandharan sculpture showing the death of the Buddha with a Greco-Roman fi gure in attendance. 6 A Gandharan carving depicting a scene from the Trojan War. 7 A Roman grave relief from Italy depicting the Peticii merchant family who had business interests in the distant East (Museo dell’Aquila). 8 An Indian statuette found at a house in Pompeii. xii ILLUSTRATIONS 9 A Roman mosaic showing how hunters captured tiger cubs (Hunt Mosaic, Antioch): ‘India produces the tiger which has tremendous swift ness. Th e hunter lies in wait to seize the tiger cubs, and then escapes on the fastest horse because, as soon as the female fi nds her lair empty, she springs into pursuit’ – Pliny the Elder in his Natural History. 10 A classical bust depicting a subject of the Roman Empire who adopted Buddhist beliefs (Museo Nazionale Romano). Abbreviations AE L’année épigraphique. BE Bagnall, R. S. and Helms, C. and Verhoogt, A. M. F. W. (2000–), Documents from Berenike. Bruxelles: Fondation Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth. CIL Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum. CIS Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum. EI Epigraphia Indica (produced by a variety publishers). IG Inscriptiones Graecae (Berlin 1873–). IGRR Inscriptiones Graecae ad Res Romanas Pertinentes. ILS Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae. Inv. Cantineau, J. and Starcky, J. and Gawlikowski, M. (eds) (1930–), Inventaire des inscriptions de Palmyre. Beirut, Paris, Damascus. O. Mich. Greek Ostraca in the University of Michigan Collection. O. Petr Ostraca in Professor W. M. Flinders Petrie’s Collection at University College, London. OGIS Dittenberger, W. (1903–1905), Orientis Graeci Inscriptiones Selectae. P. Lond. Kenyon, F. G. and Bell, H. I. (1893–), Greek papyri in the British Museum. London, British Museum Department of Manuscripts. P. M i c h . Greek Papyri in the University of Michigan Collection. P. Tebt Grenfell, B. P. and Hunt, A. S. (eds) (1902–), Th e Tebtunis Papyri. London. P. Vindob. Vindobensis Papyri, Austrian National Library, Vienna. RES Clermont-Ganneau, C. S. (eds) (1900–), Répertoire d’épigraphie semitique. Paris, Imprimerie nationale. SB Sammelbuch griechischer Urkunden aus Ägypten. SEG Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum. /0),950( .,94(50( :(94(;0( :*@;/0(5: 964(5 +(*0( ?065.5< ,4709, *63*/0: (3(50 2HZONHY ;(904 9VTL 205.+64: (94,50( :6.+0( 3V\SHU 7(9;/0( )(*;90( 3\V`HUN :LSLJ\JPH 2<:/(5 (SL_HUKYPH /(5 5()(;,( (-90*( 05+6:*@;/0( */05,:, 7L[YH ,4709, :(2( (9()0( :(;(=(/(5(: -,30? (?<4 ;(403: :90 3(52( Th e empires and territories of the Ancient World (fi rst century AD). )3(*2 7OHZPZ 9VTL :,( ,<9(:0(5:;,77, 6_\Z ;(904 ,\WOYH[LZ;PNYPZ 7(9;/0( ;,990;690,: 3\V`HUN *OHYH_ /(5 (SL_HUKYPH */05( 3L\RL 0UK\Z .HUNLZ *VW[VZ 2VTL )HYIHYPJVU 4`VZ/VYTVZ (9()0( )HY`NHaH 5PSL )LYLUPJL -,30? 2HSSPLUH .<3-6- 7\OHY (+,5 4\aPYPZ (5+(4(5: AHIHP (-90*( º-(9:0+,» 5LSJ`UKH :90 4(3(@ 3(52( *H[[PNHYH ,9@;/9(,(5:,( )695,6 :<4(;9( 9OHW[H A(5A0)(9 Th e Indian Ocean (fi rst century AD). *63*/0: )3(*2:,( 6_\Z 7OHZPZ (3(50 *(:70(5 :6.+0( ,\WOYH[LZ :,( 4,9= A\LNTH ;PNYPZ /@9*(50( )(*;90( :[VUL (U[PVJO ;V^LY :LSL\JPH 4,+0;,99(5,(5 ,JIH[HUH 7HST`YH *[LZPWOVU 2<:/(5 :,( .HaH )HI`SVU 7(9;/0( 5()(;,( 4,:,5, *OHYH_ (SL_HUKYPH 7L[YH 05+67(9;/0( 7,9:0(5 0UK\Z *VW[VZ 3\LJH .<3- 4`VZ/VYTVZ 2VTL .,99/( )LYLUPJL :(2(: 405(,(5: 9,+ :,( 4HYPI (K\SPZ ;PTUH ,9@;/9(,(5 :(;(=(/(5(: (?<4 :,( -(9(:(5: /(+9(4(<; /64,90;, 8HUH (]HSP[LZ (KLU :6*6;9( .<3-6-(+,5 :WPJLWVY[ º-(9:0+,» 6WVUL Th e Middle East (fi rst century AD).
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