University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 8-2014 The Responses of the Roman Imperial Government to Natural Disasters 29 BCE-180 CE Michael Timothy McCoy University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, and the Political History Commons Recommended Citation McCoy, Michael Timothy, "The Responses of the Roman Imperial Government to Natural Disasters 29 BCE-180 CE" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 2148. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2148 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The Responses of the Roman Imperial Government to Natural Disasters (29 BCE 180 CE) The Responses of the Roman Imperial Government to Natural Disasters (29 BCE- 180 CE) A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History by Michael Timothy McCoy Missionary Baptist Seminary Bachelor of Theology, 2000 University of Arkansas Bachelor of Arts in History and Classical Studies, 2005 University of Arkansas Master of Arts in History, 2009 August 2014 University of Arkansas This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. Dr. Charles Muntz Dissertation Director Dr. Lynda Coon Dr. Daniel Levine Committee Member Committee Member Abstract This dissertation examines the practice of imperial disaster relief between 29 BCE and 180 CE. It focuses upon both the process of disaster aid delineating how Roman emperors were petitioned for assistance, the forms disaster relief took, and the political motives individual emperors had for dispensing disaster aid. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to the topic. Chapter 2 outlines the scope of the study as well as the examples used to establish disaster relief in context. Chapter 3 gives an overview of euergetism and also discusses two cases of disaster assistance that pre-date the reign of Augustus. Chapter 4 describes the process of disaster aid from petition to benefaction. It offers analysis of the different stages of disaster recovery and when acts of imperial aid fit within those stages. It also examines the funding sources for imperial benefactions designed to assistant cities rebuild. Chapter 5 explains the correlation between disaster relief and an emperor’s political image. It explores the religious significance that could be attached to major disasters. Then, the chapter shifts to three specific case studies that illustrate how disaster response could positively or negatively impact the political standing of an emperor. Chapter 6 offers a final, brief summary of the key points of this study. ©2014 by Michael Timothy McCoy All Rights Reserved Acknowledgments There are so many people I need to thank for helping me complete this dissertation that I fear I will not be able to name them all. I wish to thank Dr. Donald Engels my mentor and advisor prior to his premature, in my opinion, retirement. He helped me develop a lasting interest in Ancient History and always showed kindness and concern for me and my family. I would also like to thank professors P. Michael Swan and Arjan Zuiderhoek who each took time out of their busy schedules to exchange emails with and suggest sources for a doctoral student whom they have never met. Thank you also to Dr. Pat Koski, Dean of the Graduate School, for the extensions I needed to complete this dissertation. A very special thank you goes to Jason McCollom, Jared Phillips, Bianca Rowlett, Natalie Hall, Yulia Uryadova, Denna Clymer, Sonia Toujdi, and Aaron Moulton. Every one of these wonderful colleagues have given me encouragement, listened to my ideas, and contributed their helpful comments. I highly value their friendship and appreciate very much the advice they offered to me. I also need to thank the outstanding administrative staff in the History Department. Jeanne Short, Brenda Foster, and Melinda Adams are all first-rate professionally and personally. I would also like to thank Dr. Kathy Sloan and Dr. Tricia Starks for their constant encouragement. I extend a special thank you to Dr. Lynn Jacobs who gave me helpful advice on the process of writing and navigating the tumultuous sea of academia. I was most fortunate to draw her as my faculty colleague for the Rome 2013 Summer Program, and I consider her a trusted friend and coffee conversationalist. Thank you to Beth Juhl who has the uncanny ability to contribute knowledge to and show interest in almost any topic. Niels Appeldorn and Ashlyn Testut each have my gratitude for their willingness to translate German and French sources for me. The members of my committee, Dr. Charles Muntz, Dr. Lynda Coon, and Dr. Daniel Levine, all deserve more gratitude than I can possibly show. Dr. Daniel Levine has overseen my progress as a student since I decided to add Classical Studies as a second major in 2002. He has been my teacher, confidant, and friend. He also has shown by example that it is possible to pursue scholarship and excellence in teaching while also being student-friendly. Dr. Lynda Coon has guided my work in many ways. During her tenure as our department chair, she provided me opportunities to teach Honors World Civilizations I and the History of Christianity. She gave me the chance to teach in the 2013 summer program in Rome and worked with Dr. Muntz to get me much needed access to the American Academy Library in Rome. Her door has always been open to me for the exchange of ideas, and she has always considered my teaching and work to be of higher quality than I think is deserved. Dr. Charles Muntz made this dissertation happen. It is not an exaggeration to say it would not exist without his leadership. He was gracious enough to take over directing my work, and he has been nothing but patient and understanding despite the ways my hectic life has affected his busy schedule. Why he ever took me on or continued to work with me after missed deadlines and very bad writing samples, I will never fully know. The fact that I have reached this point reflects what a kind and patient person he is. He deserves to have many doctoral students write under his guidance. Anyone would be most fortunate to have him direct their graduate study. I wish him the highest quality of students in the future who, with any luck, will make him forget about the spits and starts of his experience with me. His patience and kindness I will always appreciate. I want to express my sincerest thanks and appreciation for my church family which has been nothing but encouraging during this long process. They have been such an important part of my life for the past 17 years, and I love them and thank them all for their unwavering confidence in and support of me. I wish to thank Freddie and Rita Halsted, my in-laws, for their support and help. They gladly came and took care of my girls so that I could have extra time to write. This project would not have been completed without their kindness. I want to say thank you and I love you to all the McCoys and Frosts. To my parents, Kenneth and Sherry McCoy, it is difficult to express how much I love and appreciate you. In both word and deed, you taught me to work hard and never to quit just because something became difficult. You never let me settle for mediocrity. Most importantly, you taught me something far more important than any advanced degree could, namely, to love. Thank you for being such wonderful parents. Thank you for everything you have ever given to or done for me and my family. This achievement is a testament to the time you spent on my early education that no one else fully knows about outside the three of us. I love you. Finally, to my wife Amy and our daughters Ava and Allison, I wish I could adequately express how much I love you and thank you. Amy, you have always encouraged me to pursue whatever makes me happy, and you have been far more patient and loving than I deserve. Thank you for helping me get through this process by taking care of me and our girls and by not letting it get me down. For 16 years I have been honored to spend my life with you. Thank you for being such a special person and giving me the privilege of spending my life with you. To Ava and Allison, you will hopefully not remember any of this process or the time that Daddy spent away from you in Rome and at home while writing this dissertation. Thank you for reminding me, at your young ages, that being called Daddy is much more important than being called Doctor, and that laughs, tickles, hugs, and kisses have far more meaning than any combination of words on the page. Dedication To Amy, as promised. Table of Contents I. Introduction. ............................................................................................................. 1 II. Disasters Defined. ................................................................................................. 13 III. The Mentalité of Imperial Relief......................................................................... 54 IV. The Process of Relief. ........................................................................................... 96 V. Disaster Relief and Imperial Politics.................................................................