Since the time of Alexander the world had obeyed the Occidentals alone, and the east seemed to be for these merely what America and Australia afterwards became for the Europeans; with Mithradates I the east re-entered the sphere of political movement.

The world had again two masters.
Maritime Relations Piracy It remains that we glance at the maritime relations of this period; although there is hardly anything else to be said, than that there no longer existed anywhere a naval power.

Carthage was annihilated; the war-fleet of Syria was destroyed in accordance with the treaty; the war-marine of Egypt, once so powerful, was under its present indolent rulers in deep decay.

The minor states, and particularly the mercantile cities, had doubtless some armed transports; but these were not even adequate for the task--so difficult in the Mediterranean--of repressing piracy.

This task necessarily devolved on Rome as the leading power in the Mediterranean.