Social Dynamics in the Northwest Frontiers of the Late Roman Empire

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Precious Metals ◽  
Archaeological Research ◽  
Final Phase ◽  
The West ◽  
Imperial Authority ◽  
Imperial Power ◽  
Key Topics

This volume explores the final phase of the West Roman Empire, particularly the changing interactions between the imperial authority and external 'barbarian' groups in the northwest frontiers of the empire during the fourth and fifth centuries. The contributions present valuable overviews of recent archaeological research combined with innovative theoretical discussions. Key topics include the movement of precious metals, trajectories of imperial power, the archaeology of migration, and material culture in relation to debates about ethnicity.

scholarly journals A view from the margin? Roman commonwares and patterns of distribution and consumption at Interamna Lirenas (Lazio)

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 323-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Launaro ◽  
Ninetta Leone
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Roman Empire ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Archaeological Research ◽  
Widespread Distribution ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Trade And Exchange

There can hardly be any doubt that goods moved in large quantities and over great distances under the Roman empire. This awareness is borne out of a long tradition of archaeological research attesting to the widespread distribution of specific categories of material culture across the full expanse of the Mediterranean and beyond. This phenomenon has been interpreted as a more or less direct result of Rome's military expansion and the fundamental political unification which came with it, bringing about unprecedented conditions which favoured trade and exchange. Scholarship has often stressed the rôle played in this by ‘institutions’: the spread and adoption of a common set of laws, currency and units of measure, fostered by a relatively long period of internal peace and political stability, would have boosted the economic performance of the empire to levels that had not been witnessed before and would not be seen again for many centuries. Indeed, the notion of ‘efflorescence’ has sometimes been employed to describe and explain the kind of economic growth to which this process might have contributed.

scholarly journals RESEARCH OF THE DWELLINGS ON CHERNIHIV «TRETYAK» IN 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-135
Author(s):  
V. V. Ryzhiy
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Archaeological Research ◽  
City Development ◽  
The West ◽  
Trace Back ◽  
Strategic Location ◽  
Common Technique

The archaeological research in 2018 on Yeletska St., in Chernihiv made possible to understand in detailes the dynamic of development of Chernihiv region as well as to trace back the step-by-step evolution of dwelling building in conjunction with the general city development. The objects of research are vary: the dwellings, economical buildings and domestic pits, fences, defense towers, up to the burial places. Dwellings, particularly, are in focus. They are represented empirically by the two common types, that is, dugouts and above-ground houses with cellars. They are widespread diachronically — since 10th till the mid-13th centuries. The most interesting dugouts are the ones with adobe stoves of 10th century. These dwellings used to be the urban part of Chernihiv. In buildings ditches personal artifacts accompanied by the whill-made ceramics were found. The group of above-ground buildings with cellars has been built using common technique of building for their time, however, with additional constructional features. The most interesting buildings on the excavation were the buildings of the 10th century, as they belong to the beginning of the urban planning of the Tretyak of Chernihiv. During the excavation of structures the fragments of circular utensils and household items were found that reveal the material culture of the population who lived in the area. With its strategic location and protected by natural obstacles both from the east and from the west, the Tretyaka territory has been attracting people for many centuries. To summarize, the continuation of research of Chernihiv’s «Tretyak» location provided the science with rather fruitful material depicting that mass settlement of this territory (as an urban one) has begun at the late 9th — the early 10th centuries, lasting up to Mongol invasion of Kyiv Rus.

Biriai

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-27
Author(s):  
Gary Webster
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
Local Source ◽  
Archaeological Research ◽  
The West ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mediterranean Island ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Bell Beaker

The materiality of forced migration and resettlement have understandably moved to the forefront of archaeological research recently, although data from prehistoric refugia remain limited. One potentially informative example is the west Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where remains of the later third millennium BC document discontinuities associated with the appearance of Bell Beaker elements in local cultural modalities. Employing an augmented version of Aaron Burke’s ethnographically based approach, this study examines the Sardinian record, first toward identifying the contexts and factors that may have induced forced migration, such as agonistic relations with Beaker-bearing entities, then toward identifying likely refugia. Diagnostic correlates are derived in terms of the material consequences of adaptations to anthropologically documented risks encountered by refugees (e.g. landlessness, homelessness, marginalization). On these criteria, the eastern Sardinian settlement of Sa Sedda de Biriai in Oliena is identified and investigated as a possible refuge settlement of the Monte Claro culture. Evidence is marshalled with the aim of discovering temporal, spatial and material patterns consistent with Burke’s model in an augmented form, emphasizing non-local source venues, homelands or pre-flight affiliations, pre-flight or transitional objects, post-flight/refuge integrative expressions, security-adapted house architecture, residential enclaves or districts and removals of iconic pre-flight cult spaces. The social identity of the bearers of Beaker material culture on Sardinia is discussed briefly.

scholarly journals On Tendentious Records in the Continuatio Prosperi Hauniensis

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 19-37
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Sergeevich Kozlov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Fifth Century ◽  
Seventh Century ◽  
Social Orientation ◽  
Late Antique ◽  
The West ◽  
Imperial Power ◽  
Isidore Of Seville ◽  
The Stability

This research reveals the features of ideological, political, and partly social orientation of the anonymous compilations formed in Italy (most likely shortly after 636 AD) and known as Continuatio Prosperi Hauniensis, which were the mixture of a chronicle, a duplicate of excerpts from numerous consular lists of the Roman Empire, and a brief overview of the rule of the Ostrogothic and Lombard kings. The author’s attention is focused on the composition of the part of the “Continuation of Prosper” beginning with the events of the mid-fifth century. It is shown that the records saved all the features of a late antique chronicle, though the content uncovers obvious signs of imperfection and confused and incomplete editing (especially in the sections describing the disappearance of the imperial power in the West). On the contrary, the notes on the Lombard Period are clear and consistent in conceptuality. The data in this section of the records are definitely compiled by a single author who worked in the seventh century, most likely in Pavia (the main residence of the Lombard kings), and sought to reflect in his work the need to reconcile contemporary Italian elite with the leaders of barbarian conquerors. According to this anonymous compiler, the stability of the situation in Italy no longer depended on the empire, but rather on the barbarian rulers, who were mostly skilled and pragmatic warriors and politicians. In contrast to a number of sixth and seventh century chroniclers and historians, the compiler does not share the views of Gregory of Tours, Isidore of Seville, and John of Biclar, who advocated the use of force as the main means to achieve stability. He was closer to the “pacification” policy personified by Pope Gregory the Great.

Wątek składania ofiar w dekoracji budowli sakralnych Dura Europos

Vox Patrum ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 393-402
Author(s):  
Ilona Skupińska-Løvset
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
Archaeological Research ◽  
Dominant Form ◽  
Xxth Century ◽  
Desert Sand ◽  
Military Camp ◽  
The Military

Dura Europos, or as proposed today Europos Dura, was a fortified settlement on the border between the Roman Empire and the East. The archeological dis­coveries reflected the character of the settlement – the fortified agglomeration grouped at the military camp. After its fall Europos Dura was covered by desert sand only to be discovered in the XXth century. Archaeological research has dis­closed documentation of its multicultural character. This paper points to the fact of coexistence of various religions in late antiquity Europos Dura. Paintings and sculptures discovered in situ indicate that scene of offering was a favorite subject in the sacral art of Europos Dura, independent of religion. The ceremony of in­cense burning constitutes the dominant form of offering regarding visualizations of this important ceremony.

The Transition from Death to Life

1992 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-249
Author(s):  
Rowan A. Greer
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
The West ◽  
Complicated Conditions

Responding to the complicated conditions produced by both the Constantinian Revolution and the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West, Augustine concerned himself not so much with “earthly transitions” as with the only transition that he believed had final significance: the transition of Christ from death to life.

The cradle of Western medicine

Nowa Medycyna ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Lluch
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
The Other ◽  
The West ◽  
Medical Terms ◽  
Andreas Vesalius ◽  
Medical Tradition ◽  
Roman Medicine ◽  
Greek Civilization

The origins of Western Medicine can be found through the Greeks and the Romans, originally with Mythological figures represented by the god Asclepius, and later by Greek doctors such as Hippocrates and Galen. Roman medicine was highly influenced by the Greek medical tradition, relying more on naturalistic observations rather than on spiritual rituals. The writings of Galen survived more than other medical scriptures in antiquity. His theories dominated and influenced Western medical science for more than 1,300 years. This acceptance led to the spread of Greek medical theories throughout the Roman Empire, and thus a large portion of the West. Most of the actual medical terms are of Greek origin, as they were the founders of rational medicine in the golden age of Greek civilization. The Hippocrates were the first to describe diseases based on observation, and the names given by them to many conditions are still used today. On the other hand, most anatomical terms are in Latin (Nomina Anatomica), explained by the printed descriptions and illustrations of human dissections published in 1543 in the seminal work “De humani corporis fabrica” (“The Fabric of the Human Body”) by Andreas Vesalius.

Gender and Sexuality in Greek Sport

2021 ◽  
pp. 652-675
Author(s):  
Thomas F. Scanlon
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Gender And Sexuality ◽  
Sexual System ◽  
Female Participation ◽  
Male Activity

Greek sport was in its earliest forms and predominantly thereafter a male activity. Greek masculine virtues were consistently reflected in texts discussing sport from Homer onward. The athletic and the martial spheres were often in tension regarding how greatly success in sport was valued as a measure of male excellence. The Greek gymnasium and athletic nudity were factors that fostered the Greek male sexual system of pederasty. Material culture in the form of sculpture, inscriptions, and vase paintings reflects the androcentrism of Greek sport. Female participation in Greek sport has a historical existence much less consistent and widespread than that of males, seen most prominently during the Roman empire.

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