Homepage Ralph Häussler |
|
'De-Romanizing' the debate on cultural, social and economic change in the Roman empire //
|
In colour! One of these beautiful La Tène "vasi a trottola" that are so typical for North Italy, esp. Lombardy and Piedmont, between approx. 250 and 50 B.C. This one comes from Dormelletto and can be found today in the Museo di Antichità in Turin, a museum that is worth a visit! (cf. http://museoarcheologico.piemonte.beniculturali.it/ - photo: Ralph Häussler).
|
What is "Romanisation"?
Should we still use this term today? No, of course not. The term should be avoided. The critique of the term "Romanisation" has been mounting for many years, at least since the early 1990s (and occasionally long before...). There are a number of well-known aspects that show that the concepts associated with "Romanisation" are not valid. The linear model of "progressive Romanisation" should be jettissoned. Of course, Rome and Roman imperialism played an important role in the lives of people across the Roman empire. But this does not mean that everybody was striving for Roman culture, Roman lifestyle or a Roman identity? No, of course not. For example,
Also see my page on ancient religions and on "De-Romanizing Religions in the Roman world"! Recordings ("vidcasts") of some recent presentations of mine:
|
The Padane drachma, dramma Padana
What used to be a coin modelled on the Marseille drachma has become increasingly "native" (increasingly abstract art, similar to contemporary Transalpine La Tène art) in a nominally Roman period. Moreover, Celtic coin legends ("Lepontic") increasingly made an appearance in North Italy (Lombardy and Piedmont) from around 100 BC onwards... What does it tell us about Roman imperialism in this period? The Romans were present, and they were exploiting resources (like the gold mines in the Bessa), but their impact seems limited. Eventually, Roman coins took over, but not the denarius, but the victoriatus, specially minted for Cisalpine Gaul! What does this tell us about the cultural and political understandings of the elites in north-west Italy in this period...? A deliberate sign of "cultural resistance" - is this really possible? Does it mainly reflect people's personal and trade links with Transalpine Gaul...? Is it their attempt to consolidate their power in a changing world, by making use of existing artefacts...? |
Well, as we have seen, things were not very "Roman" in NW Italy between the Roman conquest and the mid-1st century BC. And yet, "romanizzazione" is such a standard term in Italy! It is even use to denote an era, covering the whole period of Roman conquests down to Augustus... Yes, people's lives were changing, but only gradually. Is it not time to jettison this term?
|