Integration and identity in the Roman Republic: a conference
21 May 2010
Classics and Ancient History, The University of Manchester: 1-3 July
The issue of integration between Romans and the Italic peoples is of fundamental importance for our understanding of the history of the Republic. This subject also has important implications for the Romanization of Italy, a subject of much interest to recent scholarship. However, it still remains unclear in what contexts Romans and Italics came into contact with each other. The project's aim therefore is to study the points of contact between these groups: before we can say anything about the cultural and linguistic consequences of integration, we must know where and why exactly Romans and Italics met. The conference aims to explore integration in a variety of contexts: geographical, political, legal, economic, linguistic, cultural, among others.
The study of these possibilities for contact between Rome and the Italics will shed light on the process of Romanization as it occurred in Republican Italy: it will be possible to establish in more detail exactly how much contact existed between Rome and the various Italian peoples, and what modes of contact existed. Research into political integration will also shed light on the concept of Roman identity in the Republic: the study of political rights shows which rights the Romans were willing to share with the Italics, and thereby their level of inclusion into Roman society.
To register for the conference, please visit the website:
There is a conference fee of £45. The deadline for registration is 31 May 2010.