Asia (Roman province)

Asia was a Roman province established in 129 BC. It encompassed the regions of Mysia, Troas, Aeolis, Lydia, Ionia, and Caria, which were located in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Pergamum served as its initial capital.

The province was created following the bequest of the Pergamene kingdom to Rome by its last king, Attalus III, in 133 BC. After quelling some resistance, notably the revolt of Aristonicus, Rome formally organized the territory into a province.

Asia was renowned for its wealth and fertile land, becoming a crucial source of revenue for the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire. The province's economy was heavily reliant on agriculture, trade, and particularly the cultivation of grapes and olives. Major cities within Asia, such as Ephesus, Smyrna, and Miletus, flourished as centers of commerce, culture, and learning.

The administration of Asia was initially overseen by a proconsul appointed annually by the Roman Senate. This official was responsible for maintaining order, collecting taxes, and administering justice. Publicani, private contractors, often played a significant role in tax collection, and their activities sometimes led to exploitation and discontent among the provincials.

The Mithridatic Wars, particularly the devastating invasion led by Mithridates VI of Pontus in the late 2nd and early 1st centuries BC, inflicted considerable damage on the province and its population. The infamous "Asiatic Vespers" saw the massacre of Roman citizens and Italians residing in Asia, prompting a brutal Roman response under the command of Sulla.

Under the Roman Empire, Asia continued to prosper, becoming a vital part of the empire's eastern territories. The imperial cult was prominent, with temples dedicated to the Roman emperors being erected throughout the province. Christianity also took root and spread throughout Asia in the early centuries AD, with several important early Christian communities established in cities like Ephesus.

The administrative structure of Asia evolved over time, with the province being divided into smaller districts for more effective governance. Diocletian's reforms in the late 3rd century AD further reorganized the province, dividing it into several smaller provinces within the Diocese of Asia.

The province of Asia remained under Roman (later Byzantine) control until the gradual incursions and eventual conquest by the Seljuk Turks in the late 11th century AD.