Rome's Cultural Revolution

An original interpretation of the fundamental transformations of Rome's society, culture and identity during the period of its imperial expansion.

Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (Author)

9780521721608, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 6 November 2008

546 pages, 112 b/w illus. 40 colour illus. 15 maps
24.5 x 17.5 x 2.5 cm, 1.1 kg

'Wallace-Hadrill does not waste words. His writing is at all times persuasive and readable.' David J. Newsome, Rosetta

The period of Rome's imperial expansion, the late Republic and early Empire, saw transformations of its society, culture and identity. Drawing equally on archaeological and literary evidence, this book offers an original and provocative interpretation of these changes. Moving from recent debates about colonialism and cultural identity, both in the Roman world and more broadly, and challenging the traditional picture of 'Romanization' and 'Hellenization', it offers instead a model of overlapping cultural identities in dialogue with one another. It attributes a central role to cultural change in the process of redefinition of Roman identity, represented politically by the crisis of the Republican system and the establishment of the new Augustan order. Whether or not it is right to see these changes as 'revolutionary', they involve a profound transformation of Roman life and identity, one that lies at the heart of understanding the nature of the Roman Empire.

Part I. Cultures and Identities: 1. Culture, power and identity
2. Dress, language and identity
Part II. Building Identities: 3. Roman Italy: between Roman, Greek and local
4. Vitruvius: building Roman identity
Part III. Knowledge and Power: 5. Knowing the ancestors
6. Knowing the city
Part IV. The Consumer Revolution: 7. Luxury and the consumer revolution
8. Waves of fashion
Epilogue: a cultural revolution?

Subject Areas: Classical Greek & Roman archaeology [HDDK], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], History of art: ancient & classical art,BCE to c 500 CE [ACG]