This book gives a structured account of Egypt's transition from Ptolemaic to Roman rule by identifying key relationships between ecology, land tenure, taxation, administration and politics. It ...introduces theoretical perspectives from the social sciences and subjects them to empirical scrutiny using data from Greek and Demotic papyri as well as comparative evidence. Although building on recent scholarship, it offers some provocative arguments that challenge prevailing views. For example, patterns of land ownership are linked to population density and are seen as one aspect of continuity between the Ptolemaic and Roman period. Fiscal reform, by contrast, emerges as a significant mechanism of change not only in the agrarian economy but also in the administrative system and the whole social structure. Anyone seeking to understand the impact of Roman rule in the Hellenistic east must consider the well-attested processes in Egypt that this book seeks to explain.
In a series of studies, Ian Moyer explores the ancient history and modern historiography of relations between Egypt and Greece from the fifth century BCE to the early Roman empire. Beginning with ...Herodotus, he analyzes key encounters between Greeks and Egyptian priests, the bearers of Egypt's ancient traditions. Four moments unfold as rich micro-histories of cross-cultural interaction: Herodotus' interviews with priests at Thebes; Manetho's composition of an Egyptian history in Greek; the struggles of Egyptian priests on Delos; and a Greek physician's quest for magic in Egypt. In writing these histories, the author moves beyond Orientalizing representations of the Other and colonial metanarratives of the civilizing process to reveal interactions between Greeks and Egyptians as transactional processes in which the traditions, discourses and pragmatic interests of both sides shaped the outcome. The result is a dialogical history of cultural and intellectual exchanges between the great civilizations of Greece and Egypt.
The aim of this paper is to provide new data on forest management and arboricultural practices in the Roman and Late Antique periods in the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula. In this study, the ...waterlogged branches found in three wells at the sites of Iesso and Vilauba in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula were analysed. To determine management practices the roundwood method, based on the correlation between age and diameter, has been applied. The study has revealed the presence of a wide range of species collected on surrounding forests, especially in riparian forest. Moreover, it is remarkable the abundance of fruit trees at both sites, being the most abundant Prunus sp. The comparison of the archaeological branches with a reference collection of modern twigs from cultivated and non-managed individuals of the Prunaceae family, Salix sp. and Sambucus nigra, has provided clear evidence of management practices in these taxa. In addition, direct evidence of pruning was observed on some branches of Vitis vinifera.
•Different types of Iron Age pottery share mineral temper in postglacial landscape.•Production process of Burnished pottery differ from other contemporary types.•Silt in pottery aids provenance ...determination in postglacial environment.•Burnished pottery was made locally.
This article explores the technological aspects of pottery from Lithuania during the pre-Roman and Roman periods, aiming to uncover the distinctive characteristics of Burnished pottery in comparison to Late Striated and other common contemporary ceramics. A secondary objective of this study is to illuminate the potential for provenancing in a glacial-formed environment and to shed light on the elusive origins of Burnished pottery. These objectives were pursued through the application of ceramic petrography and chemical analysis via pXRF on 88 pottery samples collected from ten archaeological sites. Petrographic analysis revealed differences in temper size and firing conditions between Burnished and Late Striated pottery, but chemical signatures between the various pottery types appeared indistinguishable. Furthermore, it was observed that the size, shape, and quantity of fine natural inclusions in the ceramic matrix of petrographic samples often differed between sites. However, these characteristics overlapped between Burnished pottery and some samples of other contemporary pottery types which were made with finer clay and were found at the same site. The observed results led to the conclusion that nearly every aspect of the Chaîne Opératoire of the production process differed between Burnished pottery and the other common contemporary types. Despite these technological differences, the majority of Burnished wares were likely produced locally. Additionally, a combination of chemical and petrographic analysis could be employed for provenance determination in glacial-formed environments. However, occasional overlap of chemical and petrographic data between sites could lead to incorrect ascriptions of provenance.
What were the eating and drinking habits of the inhabitants of Britain during the Roman period? Drawing on evidence from a large number of archaeological excavations, this fascinating study shows how ...varied these habits were in different regions and amongst different communities and challenges the idea that there was any one single way of being Roman or native. Integrating a range of archaeological sources, including pottery, metalwork and environmental evidence such as animal bone and seeds, this book illuminates eating and drinking choices, providing invaluable insights into how those communities regarded their world. The book contains sections on the nature of the different types of evidence used and how this can be analysed. It will be a useful guide to all archaeologists and those who wish to learn about the strength and weaknesses of this material and how best to use it.
This article resumes the presentation of the archaeological finds discovered at Tropaeum Traiani, in Sector A (north of Basilica A) between 2005 and 2016. The main purposes of the archaeological ...investigations are to verify the hypothesis of the existence of some annexes of Basilica A on its northern side and, within a broader perspective, to uncover and research the entire insula delimited by the decumanus, cardo, AV1 and ABV IV streets. The authors have focused on the drinking vessels resulting from the excavation ; 77 fragments of drinking vessels, of various types, are analysed and catalogued, their study providing valuable information regarding the daily life of the city’s inhabitants.
În articolul de față se continuă prezentarea materialelor arheologice descoperite la Tropaeum Traiani, în Sectorul A (la nord de Basilica A), în anii 2005– 2016. Scopul principal al cercetărilor este verificarea ipotezei existenţei unor anexe ale Basilicii A pe latura nordică a edificiului și, într‑o perspectivă mai largă, se urmărește dezvelirea şi cercetarea întregii insula, cuprinsă între străzile decumanus, cardo, AV1 și ABV IV. Autoarele se concentrează în acest articol asupra vaselor de băut ; sunt analizate și catalogate 77 de fragmente de vase de băut, de tipuri variate, studiul lor oferind informații prețioase privind viața de zi cu zi a locuitorilor orașului.
Boudica Gillespie, Caitlin C
2018, 2018-03-22, 2018-01-15
eBook
In ad 60/61, Rome almost lost the province of Britain to a woman. Boudica, wife of the client king Prasutagus, fomented a rebellion that proved catastrophic for Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium ...(London), and Verulamium (St Albans), destroyed part of a Roman legion, and caused the deaths of an untold number of veterans, families, soldiers, and Britons. Yet with one decisive defeat, her vision of freedom was destroyed, and the Iceni never rose again. Boudica: Warrior Woman of Roman Britain introduces readers to the life and literary importance of Boudica through juxtaposing her literary characterizations with those of other women and rebel leaders. This study analyzes the narratives of Tacitus and Cassius Dio alongside material evidence of late Iron Age and early Roman Britain. The book draws comparative sketches between Boudica and the positive and negative examples with which readers associate her, including the prophetess Veleda, the client queen Cartimandua, and the rebel Caratacus. Literary comparisons assist in the understanding of Boudica as a barbarian, queen, mother, commander in war, and leader of revolt. Despite the available ancient evidence, the real Boudica remains elusive. Boudica’s unique ability to unify disparate groups of Britons cemented her place in history. While details of her life remain out of reach, her literary character still has more to say.