A Nation of Farmer-Soldiers: The Roman-Italian Identity in Vergil’s Georgics

In this thesis, I set out to answer the question as to how the Georgics’ didactic subject matter of farming relates to the poem’s nationalistic dimension. In the first two chapters (I and II), I discuss the historical, political and social context that informs my interpretation of the poem in the remaining chapters. I argue that in the 1st century BC, Roman Italy was affected by two “crises”. In Chapter I, I discuss the Crisis of Roman-Italian Unity, by which I refer to the political conflicts and developments of the 1st century BC that affected Roman-Italian Unity. In Chapter II, I discuss the Crisis of Roman Morality, by which I refer to concerns about the decline of Roman morality expressed by some Roman authors in the 1st century BC. In my analysis of the Georgics in Chapters III-VI, I occasionally refer back to these first two chapters to substantiate my interpretation of the poem. I argue that the Georgics express nationalist sentiment in three ways. Farming, the poem’s...Show moreIn this thesis, I set out to answer the question as to how the Georgics’ didactic subject matter of farming relates to the poem’s nationalistic dimension. In the first two chapters (I and II), I discuss the historical, political and social context that informs my interpretation of the poem in the remaining chapters. I argue that in the 1st century BC, Roman Italy was affected by two “crises”. In Chapter I, I discuss the Crisis of Roman-Italian Unity, by which I refer to the political conflicts and developments of the 1st century BC that affected Roman-Italian Unity. In Chapter II, I discuss the Crisis of Roman Morality, by which I refer to concerns about the decline of Roman morality expressed by some Roman authors in the 1st century BC. In my analysis of the Georgics in Chapters III-VI, I occasionally refer back to these first two chapters to substantiate my interpretation of the poem. I argue that the Georgics express nationalist sentiment in three ways. Farming, the poem’s didactic subject matter, plays a significant role in the Georgics’ Roman-Italian nationalism. In Chapter III, I discuss Vergil’s reflections on the Crisis of Roman-Italian Unity. I argue that by praying for Octavian’s success in restoring unity in the Roman state and, by doing so, securing conditions favourable for farming in Italy, the poet expresses support for the interests of the Roman-Italian nation, which is the first way in which the Georgics give expression to Roman-Italian nationalism. Importantly, the plight of the Roman-Italian farmers plays a significant role in this expression. In Chapter IV, I substantiate the thesis that Vergil is primarily concerned with the effects of the political turmoil of recent history on farming in Italy (rather than anywhere in the world or the Roman Empire) by arguing that the Georgics are not a didactic poem on farming but rather a didactic poem on farming in Italy. Chapter V comprises a close reading of the famous Laudes Italiae in the 2nd Georgic. I argue that this passage expresses a strong sentiment of Roman-Italian nationalism. Responding to the Crisis of Roman-Italian Unity, the Laudes Italiae promote a unifying Roman-Italian national identity, which is the second way in which the Georgics give expression to Roman-Italian nationalism. Farming plays a central role in this promotion of a unifying Roman-Italian identity. What all Italians have in common, on the poet’s account, is their character as a nation of farmers, which forms the basis of their shared Roman-Italian national identity. Additionally, the Laudes Italiae express and foster nationalist pride by praising the Roman-Italian homeland of Italy for its favourable conditions and the Roman-Italian nation for its achievements, which is the third way in which the Georgics give expression to Roman-Italian nationalism. Such fostering of nationalist pride contributes to the passage’s promotion of the Roman-Italian identity: by drawing attention to the achievements of the Roman-Italian nation, the Laudes Italiae give the communities of Italy a reason to accept the Roman-Italian identity as theirs. In Chapter VI, I argue the Georgics contain the implication that traditionally Roman virtues, especially military prowess, are cultivated by the labor (“toil” or “hard work”) of the farmers of the Italian countryside. Thus, Rome’s military achievements can be accredited to the character of the Roman Italians as a nation of farmers. Accordingly, farming is central to the poem’s expression and fostering of nationalist pride. Vergil implicitly exhorts his audience to follow the moral example of the Roman-Italian farmers, who embody traditional Roman virtues, to counter the moral degeneration of contemporary Roman society, which poses a serious threat to the peace and unity of Roman Italy. Thus, through its implicit moralising message, the Georgics respond both to the Crisis of Roman Morality and to the Crisis of Roman-Italian Unity. Moreover, as the poem’s implicit exhortation to follow the moral example of the Roman-Italian farmers appears to be motivated by the poet’s desire to contribute to the restoration of the peace and unity of Roman Italy, the poem (again) supports the interests of the Roman-Italian nation. As such, the moral exhortation adds to the Georgics’ nationalistic sentiment. Importantly, the virtues cultivated by farming are the focus of this moral exhortation.Show less

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A Nation of Farmer-Soldiers: The Roman-Italian Identity in Vergil’s Georgics