Relativism and the Frontiers of Empire captures a moment in the development of agendas in the study of Romes frontiers, whilst highlighting the legacy of a classic anthropological concept. The volume adopts the theme of cultural relativism as an umbrella term, which allows opening to a range of post-colonial, positional and relational approaches that rely on contextualising frontiers within their cultural frameworks and recognising the significance of the standpoint of the scholar in production of knowledge; the two key tenets of anthropological cultural relativism.
Dedication
Relativism and the Other in the Study of Romes Frontiers Anna Walas and
Andrew Birley
Part 1: Roman Frontiers Repositioned
The Demise of Roman Frontier Studies? David J. Mattingly
Frontiers and the Roman Empire: A Comparative Perspective Andrew Gardner
From French Conquest to Algerian Independence: French Foreign Legion and the
Roman Legionary Base at Lambaesis Anna Walas
The Frontiers of the Concept: Are Romanization and Islamization Comparable?
José Cristóbal Carvajal López
Reflections on Writing the Legions: Roman Military Scholarship Rebecca H.
Jones
Visualising Roman Military Bases in Cities: The Challenge of Romes Castra
Nova Ian Haynes
Part 2: De-Colonial Approaches to Relations on Romes Frontiers
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Cross: Diplomacy, Evangelism and Ignorance on
Justinians African Frontier Andy Merrills
The Malevolent Spirit of the Red Sea Michel Reddé
Torcs Transformed: A Fresh Look at Late Iron Age and Romano-British Beaded
Torcs Fraser Hunter
Expressions of Cultural Affiliation Reflecting the Dynamic Creation of Roman
Auxiliary Communities Elizabeth M. Greene
Part 3: Relativist Deconstructions of Imperial Culture
Sculpture from Old Carlisle, Cumbria, and What It Tells Us about Life in the
Hinterland of Hadrians Wall Lindsay Allason-Jones
Setting the Frame: Further Thoughts on the Suovetaurilia Scene on the
Bridgeness Distance Slab David J. Breeze, Christof Flügel and Erik P.
Graafstal
Tracing the Life of a Dipinto: A Revision of the Iarhibol Dipinto from the
Military Clerical Office in Dura-Europos Lucinda Dirven
Effluvia of Empire: Sanitation and the Roman Army Simon Esmonde Cleary
Part 4: Cultural Relativism and Belonging on the Frontiers
The Roman Military on the Syrian Euphrates: Small Finds in Roman Global
Worlds J. A. Baird
The Men of Dura-Europos: A Demographic Profile of the Cohors XX Palmyrenorum
Carol van Driel-Murray
Ceramics and Social Practice on Roman Military Sites Penelope Allison
Frontiers and Dehumanisation: Mobility, Materiality and Religious Activity in
Frontier Zones Adam Rogers
Part 5: Relativism and Cultures of Violence
Which Side Does Sir Dress? M. C. Bishop
Differentiation and Conflict on the Northern Frontier Alexander Meyer
The Enemy You Know: Evidence for Complex Relationships and Interpersonal
Conflict on the Northern Frontier of Roman Britain Andrew Birley
Simon James, Bibliography
Anna Walas is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the Institute of Classical Studies, University of London. She holds a PhD in Roman Archaeology from the University of Leicester and previously studied at the University of Cambridge and the Jagiellonian University. She is also a Visiting Researcher at the University of Leicester and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham.
Andrew Birley holds a PhD in Roman Archaeology from the University of Leicester and is the current Director of Excavation and the CEO of the Vindolanda Trust. He is the former Chair of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Archaeological Committee and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and Scotland.
