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"An Investigation into the Rise of Piracy in the Later Roman Republic"
This paper examines the Roman Republic’s efforts to maintain control over “Mare Nostrum” (“Our Sea”), the modern Mediterranean Sea. Specifically, it delves into the period ranging from 167 – 67 B.C. During this time, increased pirate activity challenged Roman dominance of “Their Sea.” By analyzing primary sources of ancient authors as well as modern scholarly literature, it is evident that the Romans had trouble containing this intrastate threat. Over the course of the paper, the reasons for the rise in piracy during the period are described: the Roman punishment of Rhodes in 167 BC, the Roman failures to decisively defeat the pirates in battle, and the generally flippant attitude the Romans showed toward the pirates until they endangered the city of Rome itself. All of these factors led to the passage of the lex Gabinia (“Gabinian Law”) in 67 BC, giving Pompey the Great broad authority to deal with the pirate menace facing the republic. This work challenges the idea of continuous Roman domination of the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the difficulties the Romans faced while trying to combat a group of non-state actors within the borders of their empire.