Abstract:

At the beginning of the second century A.D., serial uprisings of Linenworkers of Tarsus is an important phenomenon demonstrating the disagreement between the lower classes and the local elites in the Roman cities. In many studies on the social and economic history of Roman Empire, there are refrences concerning with this event (uprising of Linenworkers of Tarsus) by only a few sentences but it not in detail. In addition to this, another problem in these works is the lack of consensus among the different approaches connected in defining this class. The main objective of this article is to consider these different approaches by determining social status of this class. This will provide to assist a better understanding of the social and economic structure of the Anatolian cities in the Roman period. In this context, the linen industry in Tarsus should be researched as the power of the Linen-workers which was evident in the city. Second Tarsic Oration of Dion Chrysostom is the unique source on the Linenworkers of Tarsus which is the fist step of this research. The most important document about the linen textile products of Tarsus and their prices is the Price Edict of Diocletian dated 301 A.D. (Edictum Diocletiani de pretiis rerum venalium). For determining political conditions of Linenworkers, we obtain important information from Strabo. For clear suggestions related to the social and economic status of Linenworkers of Tarsus, we are in need of additional epigraphic evidence about craftsmen and their guilds in Tarsus like in the other Roman cities. For determining dimensions of linen industry in Tarsus, we also need some archaelogical evidence like scale, distribution and location of weaving workshops in the city. Besides, for determining connections between the locale elite of Tarsus and linen production and trade, it is necessary to know the connection between workshops and large residences in the city. As almost the whole ancient city of Tarsus is occupied by modern town, there are only limited excavation areas and therefore, a few epigraphic and archaological data

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