The Roman Countryside

This subject provides a wide-ranging overview of both overall trends and regional differences in Roman rural occupation and economy between the Archaic period and Late Antiquity. Primarily based on archaeological data, students will be introduced to the key topics in the field, including different forms of rural settlement (villas, farms, villages), the agricultural and non-agricultural economy, Roman colonization and the role of infrastructure. Although the main focus will be on the Italian peninsula, attention will also be drawn to developments in the Roman provinces.