Experiencing Roman Citizenship in the Greek East during the Second Century CE

AbstractThis chapter explores the local contexts that can account for the conflicting interests and contrasting attitudes of local elites toward Roman citizenship in the Greek-speaking provinces of the Roman Empire during the second century CE. It addresses four main issues: the significance of Roman citizenship for local elites in a local context, the indirect benefits derived by local elites from the possession of Roman citizenship with regard to their activities at the regional level, attitudes toward Roman citizenship in free cities (which in theory were not part of the Roman Empire), and the distinction between Roman citizens of Italian or Western descent and those from native families. Contrary to what is usually assumed, the chapter argues that Roman citizenship was not necessarily attractive for all local elites during the second century CE, that the interest in universal citizenship was determined by more local concerns, and that the most tangible citizenship for most people was the local one. This chapter is an attempt at giving a qualitative explanation—inferred from political, social, and cultural factors—for why there were such large discrepancies in the numbers of Roman citizens among local elites and local officials depending on the city in the Greek East and at reassessing the narrative of decline of both Roman and local citizenships during the imperial period.