Page:Greece from the Coming of the Hellenes to AD. 14.djvu/335

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PUNISHMENT OF RHODES AND EPIRUS
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while its finances were injured by the recognition of Delos as a free port. This diverted the passage of ships between Greece and Asia, and at once seriously diminished the harbour dues, on which the revenue of the Rhodians had greatly depended. In Greece proper, though no Roman province was created, yet the whole country was made to feel its subordination. Epirus, as having openly favoured Perseus suffered worst. Not only was the League government dissolved, but all its cities were stripped of their wealth and fortifications.


COIN OF PERSES, KING OF MACEDONIA, B.C. 179–168.


More than 150,000 persons are said to have been sold into slavery, and whole districts were left desolate and uncultivated. The Boeotian League was also dissolved, and some of the most disaffected cities practically demolished. The Achaean League was not formally dissolved, but complaints against it by Sparta or other discontented members were encouraged, and 1,000 members of the nationalist party were ordered to go to Italy and await trial.

The same was done in other parts of Greece. These men were detained in

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