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The expansion caused certain reactions, including certain political and religious issues. The temples
I am studying are not directly related to globalisation, but can be seen as reactions to the
globalisation process. This involves for example using local power structures to keep control over
the new regions as the Roman empire was too large to control everything without it. They had to
establish connections with the locals and find ways to prevent rebellions and promote loyalty to
keep their large empire under control. These can be seen as part of the process of increasing
connectivity as part of globalisation processes. The expansion of the Roman empire also involves
the establishment of new trade routes that influenced the regions involved. This can also be seen
as part of the process of increased connectivity that is part of the globalisation process. The
temples I will be studying can all be seen as the results of the processes caused by the expansion
of the Roman empire.
Introduction to Roman-Egypt
The first foreign invaders in Egypt had been the Persians. They took over in the year 525 BC and
ruled until 404 BC. This period is known as the 27th dynasty, or the Persian dynasty. After the
Persian dynasty ended Egypt was ruled by native Egyptians again for some time. In 341 BC the
Persians took control of the region for a second time. This ended when the Greeks invaded in 332
BC. The Roman period in Egypt started when the Romans defeated the Greeks in 31 BC. The Greek
ruler Markus Antonius was defeated in the battle of Actium, in which he was killed (Tademasporry
1980, 182-210; Altenmüller et al. 2007, 294; Lange 1972, 204).
Egypt became a province of the Roman empire. It was not autonomous in this period, but was
governed by a regent under jurisdiction of the emperor. Welfare increased in Egypt after the
Romans took over. The improved government however was not aiming for an improvement of the
Egyptian, but for an improvement of the Roman economy. Egypt was being exploited by the
Roman government. This meant that the taxes on the local Egyptian population were heavy and
certain materials such as grain, papyrus and valuable stones such as granite and albast were
transported in big quantities to Rome. Also obelisks and Egyptian statues were exported
(Altenmüller et al. 2007, 294; Málek 1981, 55).
The Roman empire created a unity over a vast geographical spread. It also facilitated trade and
enforced the movement of soldiers. This way it brought different cultures in contact, including the
Egyptian culture (Alcock and Osborn 2012, 276).