Urban Transformation in Ancient Molise

The Integration of Larinum into the Roman State

Elizabeth C. Robinson

Takes a local-level approach, concentrating on the town of Larinum, to study the Roman conquest of Italy
Features literary sources, settlement patterns, inscriptions, monuments and artifacts to illustrate Larinum's urban transformation
Synthesizes a broad range of materials to create a history of a single site

Urban Transformation in Ancient Molise

The Integration of Larinum into the Roman State

Elizabeth C. Robinson

Description

Larinum, a pre-Roman town in the modern region of Molise, underwent a unique transition from independence to municipal status when it received Roman citizenship in the 80s BCE shortly after the Social War. Its trajectory during this period illuminates complex processes of cultural, social, and political change associated with the Roman conquest throughout the Italian peninsula in the first millennium BCE.

This book uses all the available evidence to create a site biography of Larinum from 400 BCE to 100 CE, with a focus on the urban transformation that occurred there during the Roman conquest. This study is distinctive in utilizing many different types of evidence: literary sources (including the pro Cluentio), settlement patterns, inscriptions, monuments and artifacts. It highlights the importance of local isolated variability in studies of Roman conquest, and provides a narrative that supplements larger works on this theme.

Urban Transformation in Ancient Molise

The Integration of Larinum into the Roman State

Elizabeth C. Robinson

Urban Transformation in Ancient Molise

The Integration of Larinum into the Roman State

Elizabeth C. Robinson

Author Information

Elizabeth C. Robinson is Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of Dallas Rome Program.

Urban Transformation in Ancient Molise

The Integration of Larinum into the Roman State

Elizabeth C. Robinson

From Our Blog

Molise: the undiscovered Italian region

When planning a trip to Italy, the major cities of Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice are usually on the must-see list. Yet many people also yearn to find the 'undiscovered hidden gem' waiting to be explored. For the latter group, Molise is waiting. This region is so underrated that Italians have a running joke: 'Il Molise non esiste' ('Molise doesn't exist').

Posted on September 10, 2021

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