Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/198

 138 General History oj Europe Within twelve years (200-189 B.C.) Roman arms had re- duced to the condition of vassal states two of the three great empires which succeeded Alexander in the East Macedonia and Syria. As for Egypt, the third, it also before long became a dependency of Rome (168 B.C.). 215. Subjection of the Greeks. Although defeated, the east- ern Mediterranean world, including the Greeks, long continued to give the Romans trouble. Then the Romans began harsh measures. The same year which saw the destruction of Carthage witnessed also the burning of Corinth by the Romans (146 B.C.). Those Greek states whose careers of glorious achievement in civilization we have followed were all reduced to the condition of Roman vassals. 216. Misgovernment of the Roman Provinces. The Romans had certainly shown extraordinary ability in conducting the wars that had built up their huge empire, which by this time reached all around the Mediterranean. Now they had the great problem of organizing a government to rule and control their vast posses- sions. Most of the newly acquired territories were organized as provinces, each under a Roman governor, who possessed al- most unlimited powers. He had complete control of taxation in his province and could demand all that he thought necessary for his government and troops. These governors were commonly eager to make a fortune during their short term of office, usually a single year, and their rule often became a mere system of looting and robbery. The Senate soon found it necessary to have laws passed for the punishment of such evils, but these laws proved of little use in improving the conditions. The evil effects of this situation were soon apparent. The provinces were filled with Roman business men whom we should call " loan-sharks." There were contractors called publicans, who were allowed to collect the taxes for the State at a great profit. We remember the common references to these publicans in the New Testament, where they are regularly classified with "sinners." These grafters plundered the provinces worse than the greedy Roman governors themselves.