This thesis investigates and discusses the rise and decline of the Baetican oil industry in the context of some of the wider economic, social and political developments in the Roman world between...Show moreThis thesis investigates and discusses the rise and decline of the Baetican oil industry in the context of some of the wider economic, social and political developments in the Roman world between the 1st and 3rd century AD.The focus lies on the influence of the Ius latii and the Roman conquests in northern Europe on the process of oil and amphorae production in Baetica as well as the patterns of oil distribution across the western Roman empire and Rome. The thesis also investigates the role and influence of the Roman state on the development of oil production and export and inscriptions on amphorae.Show less
In this thesis Roman tombstone inscriptions and letters are investigated. Two views on death are used for analysis of tombstone texts. The one, is a view of death as the slowly exiting of the soul...Show moreIn this thesis Roman tombstone inscriptions and letters are investigated. Two views on death are used for analysis of tombstone texts. The one, is a view of death as the slowly exiting of the soul from the world of the living to the other-worldly, called expiration. The other is a view of death as the ultimate final moment in which nothing exists, called termination. What can tombstone inscriptions –complemented with letters – tell us about how mourning worked for individuals in Roman society? What does mourning mean to Romans? In what way are mourning, display of grief and bereavement – expressed through burial rituals and on gravestones – typically Roman and in what way is it timeless? Romans tried to preserve memory of the deceased with elaborate funerals, with appealing inscriptions and with a very large variety of different tombstone inscriptions, in this way respect was paid to the dead.Show less
In deze thesis wordt een analyse gedaan naar Romeinse keizerlijke militaire representatie vanaf keizer Augustus tot en met keizer Commodus. Aan de hand van drie soorten media, namelijk munten,...Show moreIn deze thesis wordt een analyse gedaan naar Romeinse keizerlijke militaire representatie vanaf keizer Augustus tot en met keizer Commodus. Aan de hand van drie soorten media, namelijk munten, standbeelden en monumenten wordt een analyse gemaakt in hoeverre er sprake was van een 'imitatio Augusti' wat betreft de keizerlijke militaire representatie voor de militaire representatie van andere keizers die na keizer Augustus regeerden.Show less
De scriptie beslaat een onderzoek naar de beeldvorming rond de vroeg-christelijke vrouw in christelijke en pagane teksten uit de eerste drie eeuwen na Christus. Een selectie van christelijke en...Show moreDe scriptie beslaat een onderzoek naar de beeldvorming rond de vroeg-christelijke vrouw in christelijke en pagane teksten uit de eerste drie eeuwen na Christus. Een selectie van christelijke en pagane literatuur wordt onderzocht op beschrijvingen van de vroeg-christelijke vrouw. Daaruit blijkt in eerste instantie dat er geen eenduidig beeld naar voren komt, maar dat er sprake is van verschillende beelden en een bepaalde mate van communicatie en wisselwerking tussen de onderzochte teksten. De belangrijkste overeenkomsten, verschillen en verandering in de beeldvorming worden op een rij gezet. De belangrijkste overeenkomst tussen de geschetse beelden ligt in een aantal gemeenschappelijke thema’s, die uit de beschrijvingen en de context daarvan naar voren komt: de vrouw als goedgelovige hysterica met een hang naar onconventionele religieuze activiteiten, de dichotomie tussen de vrouwelijke privésfeer en de mannelijke publieke sfeer, het huwelijk en celibaat en de patriarchale structuur van het Grieks-Romeinse huishouden en tot slot het thema rond het martelaarschap. Deze vier thema’s worden als uitgangspunt genomen bij een analyse van het overzicht van beschrijvingen om tot mogelijke verklaringen van de beeldvorming te komen. Retorische strategie en het gebruik van in de oudheid bekende stereotiepe beschrijvingen van de vrouw, de bredere sociale en culturele context van in de Grieks-Romeinse samenleving bestaande conventionele opinie en traditionele waarden rond de vrouw en haar religieuze activiteiten, historische gebeurtenissen rond rechtzaken, vervolgingen en andere botsingen tussen de christelijke en pagane gemeenschap en tot slot de meer persoonlijke achtergronden, interesses en motivaties van de besproken auteurs worden onderzocht en vormen mogelijke verklaringen voor de vorm en inhoud van de onderzochte beeldvorming.Show less
There is extensive discussion amongst scholars as to the origin and flourishing of the phenomenon of the living deified ruler. The so-called ruler cult quickly gains popularity in the Hellenistic...Show moreThere is extensive discussion amongst scholars as to the origin and flourishing of the phenomenon of the living deified ruler. The so-called ruler cult quickly gains popularity in the Hellenistic era and continues long into the Roman period. Although scholars have long been trying to find an explanation for this in the source material, none have succeeded in finding one which satisfies all. It is possible that the Cognitive Science of Religion (CSR) could provide us with a new framework in which to place the already exciting evidence. Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary and scientific investigation of the mind and intelligence. Its advantages are that it focusses on general ‘laws’ of thinking that follow out of the structure of our brains. It follows then, that these are theories that should be applicable across cultures and, since the structure of our brains has not evolved since the beginning of history (ca. 3000 B.C.), they are also applicable through time. Cognitive science could therefore help in providing a framework in which the current theories on the ruler cult can function, by indicating what is even humanly possible to think based on the structure of the brain. It could perhaps, even suggest the most likely theories that can be discovered given certain tendencies the human mind has. This research examines the possibility of applying the Cognitive Science of Religion in the origin and flourishing of the Hellenistic and Roman ruler cults, as well as the study of Ancient History in general. It does this by examining the viability of the so-called Standard Model (a seven-point construct that outlines the major areas of consensus in CSR) in the primary material of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.Show less
Historical investigation into the meaning and use of terms of abuse in the Greek and Roman world, especially in the plays of Aristophanes and the epigrams of Martial. The first chapter is a summary...Show moreHistorical investigation into the meaning and use of terms of abuse in the Greek and Roman world, especially in the plays of Aristophanes and the epigrams of Martial. The first chapter is a summary of the two main historical works that already exist, both only scratch the surface. The second chapter gives examples of words of abuse out the works of Martial. The second chapter gives examples of the same in the plays of Aristophanes. The fourth gives other examples from Homer, graffito and other sources. The Fifth chapter shows what we can tell from words of abuse concerning the Greek-Roman world.Show less
Dit onderzoek behandelt de verhouding tussen de Gotische en Romeinse (etnische) identiteit in Ostrogotisch Italië, en hoe die beïnvloed werd door de Gotische oorlogen (535-554). Aan de hand van...Show moreDit onderzoek behandelt de verhouding tussen de Gotische en Romeinse (etnische) identiteit in Ostrogotisch Italië, en hoe die beïnvloed werd door de Gotische oorlogen (535-554). Aan de hand van sociaalwetenschappelijke theorieën wordt zowel het historiografisch debat als het primaire bronnenmateriaal geanalyseerd (met name Procopius en Cassiodorus). Er blijkt een spanningsveld te zijn tussen de ideologische lading van het primaire bronnenmateriaal, en de ‘wereld achter de tekst’. Hier wordt een situationalistische lezing van etniciteit aangedragen als middenweg binnen de historiografische discussie. De betekenis en het belang van ‘Gotische’ of ‘Romeinse’ identiteit was context-afhankelijk.Show less
In deze scriptie wordt onderzocht hoe de keizercultus in de vroege keizertijd (Julisch-Claudische dynastie) werd gebruikt als middel tot versterking van de macht. Dit wordt getoetst aan de hand van...Show moreIn deze scriptie wordt onderzocht hoe de keizercultus in de vroege keizertijd (Julisch-Claudische dynastie) werd gebruikt als middel tot versterking van de macht. Dit wordt getoetst aan de hand van de geschriften van de Arvaalse broeders, munten en monumentale afbeeldingen.Show less
This thesis seeks to describe the unique structures of the Roman Empire. The Empire, and especially the early Empire is usually described as un-bureaucratic. The entire Empire rested on informal...Show moreThis thesis seeks to describe the unique structures of the Roman Empire. The Empire, and especially the early Empire is usually described as un-bureaucratic. The entire Empire rested on informal structures. The get a better understanding of the historical development of the Roman government the method of contrast is used. The structures of Roman governance in the early Empire stood in a sharp contrast with the developments in the early Chinese Empire, where early in history strong bureaucratic structures existed. The reasons for these strong differences are described by the lines of the role of the aristocracy in the government and the role of the military and wars. This thesis operates under the assumption that Charles Tilly's thesis on war and state-making is also applicable on the ancient world.Show less
An inquiry into the Roman perspectives, attitudes and opinions on the religions of ancient Egypt and ancient Gaul in the period between the first century BCE and the second century CE. The thesis...Show moreAn inquiry into the Roman perspectives, attitudes and opinions on the religions of ancient Egypt and ancient Gaul in the period between the first century BCE and the second century CE. The thesis is based primarily on the opinions of Roman authors and previous studies.Show less
This thesis looks at changes in landholding patterns in the age of Sulla. While most studies on landholding patterns focus on the second century B.C., the author argues that the first century B.C....Show moreThis thesis looks at changes in landholding patterns in the age of Sulla. While most studies on landholding patterns focus on the second century B.C., the author argues that the first century B.C. is deserving of more scholarly attention since many big changes occur in this period. The author discusses Sulla’s colonization programme and the proscriptions in order to determine the effect of these measures on landholding patterns in Italy. Specifically, this thesis seeks to help illuminate the reasons behind the veritable explosion of villa-buildings after the age of Sulla. This study offers up a reassessment of the colonization programme and argues that the programme was conducted on a much smaller scale than is often thought. The overall impact of the programme is also far less significant than often assumed. It is argued that the proscriptions had a far larger impact on landholding patterns. The author argues that it was the proscriptions, and not the colonization programme, that is likely to have led to an increase in villa-buildings.Show less
This master thesis comprises the mechanisms of Romanization in four different cities in Liguria, i.e. Albingaunum, Albintimilium, Luca and Luna. In the first chapter an article of Terrenato is...Show moreThis master thesis comprises the mechanisms of Romanization in four different cities in Liguria, i.e. Albingaunum, Albintimilium, Luca and Luna. In the first chapter an article of Terrenato is discussed, as well as the recent debate on Romanization, and the existing models proposed by Curchin. In the second chapter, Liguria before the Romans is discussed, as well as the relationship between Liguria and Rome, and the aftermath with regard to Liguria. In chapter three the 'indigenous cities' of Albingaunum and Albintimilium are discussed in the light of Romanization mechanisms. The same is done in chapter four for the colonial cities of Luca and Luna. In chapter five, a conclusion is given to answer the question of which mechanisms of Romanization were in process in these four different (types of) cities and if we can distinguish some kind of pattern.Show less
A research on the lack of candidates for the function of Vestal Virgin, one of the most important priesthoods in Ancient Rome. Seen from the perspective of elite competition, this thesis shows that...Show moreA research on the lack of candidates for the function of Vestal Virgin, one of the most important priesthoods in Ancient Rome. Seen from the perspective of elite competition, this thesis shows that religion and politics were completely intertwined and that the elite daughters were used by their families for the political games of elite competition.Show less
This thesis undertakes a comparative analysis of the Roman Empire during the third-century 'crisis' (AD 249-284) on the one hand and the tetrarchic era (AD 284-324) on the other hand. As an...Show moreThis thesis undertakes a comparative analysis of the Roman Empire during the third-century 'crisis' (AD 249-284) on the one hand and the tetrarchic era (AD 284-324) on the other hand. As an analysis of the Roman Empire in all its aspects is obviously not feasible, the thesis limits itself to the three most important ones: first, Rome's wars against its external enemies; second, the internal instability that plagued the empire throughout this period; third, the empire's economic difficulties. After a short narrative chapter which serves to give a general chronological outline and introduce the key players, each of the three aspects is thouroughly discussed in its own thematic chapter. An important theme of the thesis is comparative historiography, which shows how there remains general agreement among historians that the tetrarchic era represents a significant improvement in the fortunes of the empire compared to the 'crisis' that preceded it. The thesis argues that, contrary to the general consensus, the tetrarchy only improved on the 'crisis' in some regards, while it did no better, and arguably even worse, on other points.Show less
