Roman Imperialism and the Transformation of Rural Society in a Frontier Province: Diversifying the Narrative

Abstract

This paper studies rural populations in the Roman frontier province of Germania inferior, employing a perspective that allocates more space to the exploitative and repressive aspects of Roman rule. We draw attention to an alternative series of topics than the ones currently presented in rural archaeology. This includes attention to situations of crisis and instability, to fundamental reordering of rural populations, to issues of migration and to the interconnectivity of rural developments and imperial power structures. While these topics are usually considered as ‘historically given’, they are rarely the subject of serious archaeological research. This attempt at a more historicising approach does not mean a simple return to the traditional paradigm of historische Altertumskunde. Much better equipped than our predecessors of two or three generations ago, we archaeologists of the 21st century are able to engage in a critical and creative dialogue with historical sources and models.

Stable population structure in Europe since the Iron Age, despite high mobility

“…With transient mobility as the main contributor to the observed heterogeneity, it remains unclear what additional demographic processes contributed to the maintenance of spatial genetic structure. The collapse of the Empire involved a loss of urban-military complexes and depopulation of cities, followed by ruralization (Burgess, 2007; Dey, 2015; Roymans et al, 2020). Without the Empire incentivising trade and movement, there may have been little motive for individuals to remain in these suddenly remote regions.…”

The dark side of the Empire: Roman expansionism between object agency and predatory regime

“…The influence of post-colonialist thought and critical heritage, however, is creating more space for alternative narratives of dramatic rural transformations that underline the key role played by imperial agency and extreme social hierarchies. This is illustrated by three major transformations that had a profound impact on rural populations in Germania inferior (Roymans et al 2020).…”

“…This is illustrated by three major transformations that had a profound impact on rural populations in Germania inferior (Roymans et al . 2020).…”

The ‘Saxon Shore’ Reconsidered

“… 188 Johnson 1983, 145; Drinkwater 1987, 28; Casey 1994, 48; Drinkwater 2007, 52–3; Esmonde Cleary 2013, 47–8, 52, 70–1; Brulet 2015, 594–5; 2017, 120–1, 122, 128; Dhaeze 2019, 119–20; cf. Roymans et al 2020, 277–84; see above ‘The Shore Forts c . 200–286/Gaul I’.…”