Local and Imperial Culture in the Roman Provinces - by Kristian Kanstrup Christensen (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Through the use of case studies from across the Roman world, this book investigates the cultural interaction and local traditions of provincial communities under the control of imperial Rome, by drawing its theoretical approach from the anthropology of agrarian societies in South Asia"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

By adopting a theoretical approach rooted in the anthropological study of agrarian communities, this book investigates the reach and impact of Roman civilisation while considering the limitations of pre-industrial communication and social organisation. For half a millennium, the Roman state unified the Mediterranean world in an empire without parallel in European history. Yet, to what extent did this vast domain truly integrate the diverse cultures under its rule? This question forms the foundation for a novel cultural history that captures both sides of ancient imperialism: the connectivity fostered between local cultures and the hierarchical structures imposed upon them.

This framework is tested through a series of case studies, drawing on diverse sources from across the empire, including Rhineland portraiture, Egyptian votive dedications, British ceramic assemblages, the letters of Saint Augustine, Pannonian burial mounds, Anatolian maledictions against grave robbers, Gaulish pottery firing lists, and more. These studies reveal that Roman rule generated significant cultural interaction, with the practices of the imperial elite deeply influencing local communities, sometimes even transforming them. However, full participation in elite culture remained accessible only to a small segment of the provincial population. As a result, even after centuries of Roman dominion, local cultures persisted.

About the Author

Kristian Kanstrup Christensen is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.