Hum Dinger
Gold Member
- Aug 19, 2008
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So the Romans conquered just about everyone. For most of the indigenous peoples, that survived the ensuing slaughter, they were either sent to hard labor as slaves, became soldiers in a Roman Auxiliary legion or lived in the wilderness in abject poverty.
However, once the Romans had established their rule, they tended to assimilate the local culture. One key to this was that Romans were allowed to have multiple religions. They would maintain their Roman religion, while adopting the religions of the locals. This made for good relations.
For the Jews things were a bit different. They were on average, more educated (especially in Greek culture), and generally more civilized than most. So the Romans tended to make them household slaves. This was actually an extremely privileged position. They were de facto members of the Roman's extended families. They cared for and taught the Roman children. They cooked for the Romans. They were trusted accountants and advisors. They procured all for the Roman households, and thereby controlled all local commerce.
So for all the other conquered peoples, Romanization meant not only rule by Romans, but along with that, a slew of priviliged Jewish household slaves moving into their country.
Then suddenly, the Romans adopted a form of Judiasm called Christianity. A religion that holds a Jewish man as God. Not only that, but all religious tolerance by the Romans stopped. Anyone that was not a Christian was at least cast out from all business dealings. In the most extreme cases entire non-Christian communities were put to the sword.
Those who stayed true to their indigeonus religions were branded as witches and executed.
How did it look to all of our non-Roman and non-Jewish ancestors? A mystical brainwashing of the Romans by the Jews perhaps?
However, once the Romans had established their rule, they tended to assimilate the local culture. One key to this was that Romans were allowed to have multiple religions. They would maintain their Roman religion, while adopting the religions of the locals. This made for good relations.
For the Jews things were a bit different. They were on average, more educated (especially in Greek culture), and generally more civilized than most. So the Romans tended to make them household slaves. This was actually an extremely privileged position. They were de facto members of the Roman's extended families. They cared for and taught the Roman children. They cooked for the Romans. They were trusted accountants and advisors. They procured all for the Roman households, and thereby controlled all local commerce.
So for all the other conquered peoples, Romanization meant not only rule by Romans, but along with that, a slew of priviliged Jewish household slaves moving into their country.
Then suddenly, the Romans adopted a form of Judiasm called Christianity. A religion that holds a Jewish man as God. Not only that, but all religious tolerance by the Romans stopped. Anyone that was not a Christian was at least cast out from all business dealings. In the most extreme cases entire non-Christian communities were put to the sword.
Those who stayed true to their indigeonus religions were branded as witches and executed.
How did it look to all of our non-Roman and non-Jewish ancestors? A mystical brainwashing of the Romans by the Jews perhaps?
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