J. Bradford DeLong's Blog, page 156

Weekend Reading: Polybius on the First Two Treaties Between Rome and Carthage

Polybius: Histories: "The first treaty between Rome and Carthage was made... twenty-eight years before the invasion of Greece by Xerxes [509 BC].... The ancient language differs so much from that at present in use, that the best scholars among the Romans themselves have great difficulty in interpreting some points in it.... The treaty is as follows...

...There shall be friendship between the Romans and their allies, and the Carthaginians and their allies, on these conditions:

Neither the Romans nor their allies are to sail beyond the Fair Promontory, unless driven by stress of weather or the fear of enemies. If any one of them be driven ashore he shall not buy or take aught for himself save what is needful for the repair of his ship and the service of the gods, and he shall depart within five days.

Men landing for traffic shall strike no bargain save in the presence of a herald or town-clerk. Whatever is sold in the presence of these, let the price be secured to the seller on the credit of the state���that is to say, if such sale be in Libya or Sardinia.

If any Roman comes to the Carthaginian province in Sicily he shall enjoy all rights enjoyed by others. The Carthaginians shall do no injury to the people of Ardea, Antium, Laurentium, Circeii, Tarracina, nor any other people of the Latins that are subject to Rome.

From those townships even which are not subject to Rome they shall hold their hands; and if they take one shall deliver it unharmed to the Romans. They shall build no fort in Latium; and if they enter the district in arms, they shall not stay a night therein....

After this treaty there was a second [348 BC].... The treaty is as follows:

There shall be friendship between the Romans and their allies, and the Carthaginians, Tyrians, and township of Utica, on these terms: The Romans shall not maraud, nor traffic, nor found a city east of the Fair Promontory, Mastia, Tarseium. If the Carthaginians take any city in Latium which is not subject to Rome, they may keep the prisoners and the goods, but shall deliver up the town. If the Carthaginians take any folk, between whom and Rome a peace has been made in writing, though they be not subject to them, they shall not bring them into any harbours of the Romans; if such an one be so brought ashore, and any Roman lay claim to him, he shall be released. In like manner shall the Romans be bound towards the Carthaginians.

If a Roman take water or provisions from any district within the jurisdiction of Carthage, he shall not injure, while so doing, any between whom and Carthage there is peace and friendship. Neither shall a Carthaginian in like case. If any one shall do so, he shall not be punished by private vengeance, but such action shall be a public misdemeanour.

In Sardinia and Libya no Roman shall traffic nor found a city; he shall do no more than take in provisions and refit his ship. If a storm drive him upon-those coasts, he shall depart within five days.

In the Carthaginian province of Sicily and in Carthage he may transact business and sell whatsoever it is lawful for a citizen to do. In like manner also may a Carthaginian at Rome.

Once more in this treaty we may notice that the Carthaginians emphasise the fact of their entire possession of Libya and Sardinia, and prohibit any attempt of the Romans to land in them at all; and on the other hand, in the case of Sicily, they clearly distinguish their own province in it. So, too, the Romans, in regard to Latium, stipulate that the Carthaginians shall do no wrong to Ardea, Antium, Circeii, Tarracina, all of which are on the seaboard of Latium, to which alone the treaty refers...

#weekendreading

Note to Self: Early Roman Expansion:Gary Forsythe: A Cr...

Note to Self: Early Roman Expansion:

Gary Forsythe: A Critical History of Early Rome  
https://delong.typepad.com/forsythe-rome.pdf: "In 1892, H. von Arnim published a single leaf from a Greek text found in a Vatican collection. It contained a series of four anecdotes from Roman history. Since the text had gone unnoticed and unpublished, and since its author is unknown, it has gone by the name of The Ineditum Vaticanum. The second of the four anecdotes concerns an encounter between a Roman and a Carthaginian at the Strait of Messina on the eve of the First Punic War (von Arnim 1892, 121���22). The Carthaginian, who is in charge of the Punic garrison in Messana, warns the Romans not to cross the strait to take on Carthage, because unlike the Carthaginians, the Romans have no knowledge of naval warfare. The Roman ambassador or military tribune, probably dispatched to Messana by the consul Ap. Claudius Caudex stationed at Rhegium with his army, is made to reply to the Carthaginian in the following manner...

The Romans have always learned things from foreign peoples and have then bested them in the matter. The Romans learned from the Etruscans how to fight with round shields in a hoplite phalanx formation, and they then used this method of warfare to conquer all their neighbors. At a later time they learned from the Samnites how to fight in maniples armed with the pilum and scutum, and they turned this against the Samnites and defeated them. Although they had no knowledge of siege craft, they learned this art from the Greeks of southern Italy and used their newly acquired expertise to subdue the Greeks. Conse- quently, the Carthaginians should not force the Romans to take to the sea, because if they do, the Romans will likewise become unsurpassed in naval warfare and will defeat the Carthaginians.

Despite its rhetorical glibness, the passage is likely to be historically valid regarding Rome���s adoption of the manipular organization (contra Salmon 1967, 105���7). It differed in two basic respects from the hoplite phalanx previously employed by the Romans. Instead of being armed with a round shield and thrusting spear, the soldier was protected by a scutum and used the pilum and sword as his offensive weapons. Rather than being round, the scutum was broad across the top and tapered slightly toward the bottom edge (Livy 9.40.2 and 8.8.3). The pilum was a javelin which Roman soldiers hurled in concert when advancing toward the enemy in order to throw the opposing formation into confusion before closing for hand-to-hand combat. The sword was drawn and used instead of a thrusting spear when contact was made with the enemy. Each Roman legion consisted of sixty centuries, each commanded by a centurion; the centuries were paired together to form thirty maniples. The latter were drawn up in three lines...

#history

Amy Chozick: "It���s dizzying to realize that without eve...

Amy Chozick: "It���s dizzying to realize that without even knowing it, you���ve ended up on the
wrong side.... In December, after the election, my colleagues in Washington wrote.... I must���ve read this line 15 times: 'Every major publication, including The Times, published multiple stories citing the D.N.C. and Podesta emails posted by WikiLeaks, becoming a de facto instrument of Russian intelligence'. The Bernie Bros and Mr. Trump���s Twitter trolls had called me a donkey-faced whore and a Hillary shill, but nothing hurt worse than my own colleagues calling me a de facto instrument of Russian intelligence. The worst part was, they were right...

#noted

Liveblogging: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Astronomy, Northumbria, and Victories of Cynric

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (J.A. Giles and J. Ingram trans.): Astronomy, Northumbria, and Victories of Cynric: "A.D. 538. This year the sun was eclipsed, fourteen days before the calends of March, from before morning until nine...

...A.D. 540. This year the sun was eclipsed on the twelfth day before the calends of July; and the stars showed themselves full nigh half an hour over nine.

A.D. 544. This year died Wihtgar; and men buried him at Carisbrook.

A.D. 547. This year Ida began his reign; from whom first arose the royal kindred of the Northumbrians.

Ida was the son of Eoppa, Eoppa of Esa, Esa of Ingwy, Ingwy of Angenwit, Angenwit of Alloc, Alloc of Bennoc, Bennoc of Brand, Brand of Balday, Balday of Woden. Woden of Fritholaf, Fritholaf of Frithowulf, Frithowulf of Finn, Finn of Godolph, Godolph of Geata.

Ida reigned twelve years. He built Bamburgh-Castle, which was first surrounded with a hedge, and afterwards with a wall.

A.D. 552. This year Cynric fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Sarum, and put them to flight.

Cerdic was the father of Cynric, Cerdic was the son of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wye, Wye of Frewin, Frewin of Frithgar, Frithgar of Brand, Brand of Balday, Balday of Woden.

In this year Ethelbert, the son of Ermenric, was born, who on the two and thirtieth year of his reign received the rite of baptism, the first of all the kings in Britain.

A.D. 556. This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought with the Britons at Beranbury...

#liveblogging #history #anglosaxonchronicle

"A Republic, If You Can Keep It"

James McHenry: Papers: "Monday 17 Sepr. 1787: Read the engrossed constitution. Altered the representation in the house of representatives from 40 to thirty thousand. Dr. Franklin put a paper into Mr. Willson's hand to read containing his reasons for assenting to the constitution. It was plain, insinuating, persuasive-and in any event of the system guarded the Doctors fame. Mr. Randolp[h], Mr. Mason, and Mr. Gerry declined signing. The other members signed...

...Being opposed to many parts of the system I make a remark why I signed it and mean to support it.

Firs[t]ly I distrust my own judgement, especially as it is opposite to the opinion of a majority of gentlemen whose abilities and patriotism are of the first cast; and as I have had already frequent occasions to be convinced that I have not always judged right.

Secondly Alterations may be obtained, it being provided that the concurrence of 2/3 of the Congress may at any time introduce them.

Thirdly Comparing the inconveniences and the evils which we labor under and may experience from the present confederation, and the little good we can expect from it-with the possible evils and probable benefits and advantages promised us by the new system, I am clear that I ought to give it all the support in my power.

Major Jackson Secr[etar]y to carry it to Congress. Injunction of secrecy taken off. Members to be provided with printed copies. Adjourned sine die. Gent[leme]n. of Con[necticut] dined together at the City Tavern.

A lady asked Dr. Franklin: "Well, Doctor, what have we got���a republic or a monarchy?" "A republic", replied the Doctor, "if you can keep it". (The lady here aluded to was Mrs. Powel of Philada[delphia]._

Mr. Martin said one day in company with Mr. Jenifer, speaking of the system before Convention: "I'll be hanged if ever the people of Maryland agree to it. I advise you said Mr. Jenifer to stay in Philadelphia lest you should be hanged."

... ...

#history

Comment of the Day: Graydon: "Ads exist to increase your ...

Comment of the Day: Graydon: "Ads exist to increase your insecurity, so you'll spend money to lower it. The entire endeavour is not in the public interest.

#commentoftheday

Comment of the Day: D. C. Sessions: "One of those 'small ...

Comment of the Day: D. C. Sessions: "One of those 'small city research universities' is New Mexico Tech (nmt.edu), which is in a town (Socorro) of 10,000. In addition to the usual research and educational activities, NMT manages the Very Large Array radiotelescope array, the 2.4 meter fast object tracking Magdalena Ridge Optical Observatory, the Langmuir Lightning Laboratory, and the new Magdalena Ridge Optical Interferometric telescope array. I probably forgot a few. Despite this, low cost of living, and a congenial climate, Socorro is losing ground. Before trying to copy NMT across the USA, it would be wise to understand why the formula isn't working here.

#commentoftheday

Comment of the Day: Graydon: "Intelligence is emergent. W...

Comment of the Day: Graydon: "Intelligence is emergent. We know with some confidence that you can get it more than one way -- the way you think, and the way a parrot thinks are not the same -- and that you can get it with way fewer neurons than we use (that parrot again, or corvids) but we don't know what it emerges from or how. Which is where all the neuron complexity arguments die in a pit. I think it's more useful to think about something like Deep Mind as an artificial reflex than as artificial intelligence; a certain narrow range of stimuli produces a quick response. The emergent stuff is just not there at all.

#commentoftheday

Comment of the Day: Erik Lund: "'Cerdic' appears to be a ...

Comment of the Day: Erik Lund: "'Cerdic' appears to be a Brittonic name, 'Ceretic', or, in reconstructed British, Caraticos, tolerably close to 'Caratacus', a heroic leader of British resistance against the Roman invader, who appears in the Latin historians, Tacitus and Dio Cassius. It seems to be a minority argument that 'Cerdic' is 'Caratacus'. Tracing royal ancestry back to Woden is an Anglo-Saxon affectation, we all agree. (In spite of a strong argument that it is actually everyone else copying Bede, and Bede trying to patch up an acceptable genealogy for the post-Osred Bernician kings, who could no longer trace their ancestry back to Ealdfrith, and had to resort to the much less satisfactory, legendary figure of Ida.) But the House of Wessex claiming an ancient British hero as apex ancestor? That's whack...

...Nor is this likely to be the genealogy of the House of Wessex. Rather, what we have here is probably the forced merger of two traditions, that of the Gewisse, a kingdom north of the upper Thames Valley that found it important to assert British origins, and of a more southerly kingship that might have been the original Wessex. We don't really know, because later Wessex regimes seem to have ruthlessly suppressed the original geography of religious centres in the south in favour of Winchester and a royal cult of Alfred. Interestingly, both Beohtric and St. Edward the Martyr were buried at Lady St. Mary in Wareham, strongly suggesting that it was an episcopal seat for a (suppressed) diocese.

>The important point being that the ruthless ecclesiastical politics of the "Viking" Age --and afterwards-- repressed many early religious institutions. When the memory of losing institutions like Iona, Lindisfarne and Kildare could not be repressed, Viking and Magyar marauders were imported into the narrative to do the necessary work.

#commentoftheday

Comment of the Day: Kaleberg: "It depends on what you mea...

Comment of the Day: Kaleberg: "It depends on what you mean by a 'robot'. Do you count remote wellhead monitoring systems? That eliminates drill monitoring jobs. Do you count synthetic oils and computerized internal combustion engine control letting lubrication oil last longer? That eliminates automobile maintenance jobs. Let's not even talk about the revolution in steel making over the last 30 years that has eliminated tens of thousands of dirty, dangerous jobs. There is a long list like this. Uber and Lyft eliminate dispatcher's jobs. Reservation web sites eliminate receptionist and scheduling jobs...

...Why don't we see labor productivity soaring? If we look closely at particular businesses, it is probably visible. If we look at the aggregate we have to account for the fact that the workers still exist and are now either out of the workforce, hence a lower employed population percentage, or are working at a job with lower pay and lower output. In that latter case we'd see rising income inequality as more and more workers fall to the wage, benefit and productivity floor. I'm willing to bet their is a structural argument that these workers get jobs that scale with untrained labor, produce limited output gains but still provide a bit of a profit to businesses.

Technological change is a problem, but as the changes build up, the nation faces a demand crisis. This happened in the 1930s when massive technological improvements increased productivity by two to three orders of magnitude. It was a great time to be a radio engineer, just as the current day is a good time to be a computer engineer...

#commentoftheday