This study was undertaken to explore how the concept of the definition of Roman identity changed over the course of the late Roman Republic and into the early Empire culminating with the death of Augustus in 14 AD. Since the 1970's the historiography surrounding the late Roman Republic and early Empire has had to contend with what exactly the populus Romanus and its power basis was. From these questions concepts of power, gender, group formation, and even nationalism have emerged. However, few academics have targeted the nucleus that all of these questions revolve around, how did the identity of the people of Rome, the populus Romanus, change over the shift from Republic to Empire. To highlight this shift in identity I first studied the public orations of Cicero and how he identifies his populus Romanus. After I progressed to studying this expanded populus Romanus within the written Latin works of Ovid, Horace, Virgil, and Livy to demonstrate that the identity of the populus Romanus is not static but rather continues to evolve along with the transition from Republic to Empire. This study is important to the historiography of the late Roman Republic and early Empire because it demonstrates that during the late Roman Republic Roman identity was shifting to incorporate several outside groups of people, effectively leading to the creation of an empire before Empire.

This thesis explores the influence of Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire on modern scholarship about two ancient Roman historians, Ammianus Marcellinus and Procopius of Caesarea. It reveals that Gibbon's way of thinking about these historians, whom he referred to as his "guides," continues to shape scholarly discourse about them.

<p>This thesis argues that the Epicureans did not simply repeat the ipsa dicta of Epicurus, but developed new areas of study - (e.g., logic, rhetoric) of which Epicurus did not approve. This transmuted Epicureanism influenced the Romans of the late Republic and some of its ideas appear in Lucretius' De Rerum Natura.</p> <p>Chapter 1 offers a brief historical sketch of some Epicureans of the late Republic and suggests that there was a peculiarly Roman Epicureanism as evidenced by their lives and actions. Chapter 2 discusses changes in Epicurean attitudes due to the influence of other schools, and the desire to "popularize" Epicureanism among the Romans. Chapter 3 outlines the evidence for the existence of Epicurean works in Latin other than the De Rerum Natura. Chapter 4 deals with Lucretius' debt to the early Epicureans, the later Epicureans and his Roman milieu.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

This thesis explores the archaeology of late antique Sicily from the time of Theodosius I (347–95) to the reign of Constans II (630–68). Analysing published data from urban and rural contexts I aim to define three research subjects that are: 1 – The potential different phases of Sicilian Late Antiquity; 2 – The part played by the Church and the impact of Christianity in this transitional period, and, finally, 3 – The definition of a regional economic pattern. During the centuries here investigated, Sicily went through three main phases named: the fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine conquest of the 6th century and the process of Byzantinization of the Sicilian society and culture. The Church played a key role in all these three phases initially negotiating with local elite and cultural background its presence within the urban walls. But after the Byzantine conquest and until the Arab occupation of Sicily, the Church imposed its authority through the building of churches, monasteries and chapels transforming the urban and rural landscape. After the Vandal invasion of North Africa, Sicily became the only food supply for Italy and this deeply impacted the provincial economy increasing production and trade with Italy resulting in a period of economical prosperity and cultural liveliness.

The medieval castle is one of the most popular topics in medieval historiography and interest in this structure has institutionalized it in modern medieval scholarship. Unfortunately, this does not mean that modern historians understand it. The problem lies in the narrow and isolationist definition used by many scholars who see it as simply a fortified private residence representing and defending power. This thesis will demonstrate that the castle’s contemporaries understood it as an identifiable and distinguishable structure and symbol with a singular yet multi-dimensional characteristics as a fortified, personal, and multifunctional resource. The twelfth-century Anglo-Norman realm has been chosen as a focus for this thesis because of the specific differences between the reigns of Henry I, Stephen, and Henry II. This period, particularly the nineteen years of Stephen’s reign, experienced significant castle warfare, which provides a great deal of material for this study. In chapters 1-3, each of the above characteristics and their corresponding details will be analysed individually. In chapter 4, three case studies will be presented to demonstrate how these independent characteristics were perceived of as acting simultaneously. Chapter 5 will compare perceptions of castles to other medieval buildings. Finally, chapter 6 will test the definition’s legitimacy by applying it beyond the twelfth-century Anglo-Norman realm. This dissertation will demonstrate that there was a contemporary understanding of the castle which encompassed its fortified nature, its personal possession, and its multifunctional resourcefulness. If we are to understand this phenomenon as its contemporaries did, then we need to alter our modern definition and expand our understanding in order to come to a truer and more complete appreciation of this essential resource in the Middle Ages.

Within a few centuries after the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West, the descendants of Romans who had envisioned the world in terms of moral, civilized Romans and the savage barbarian ‘other’ had come to identify with those very barbarians. This thesis explores this shift from ‘Roman’ to ‘Gothic’ and ‘Frankish’ identities in sixth- and seventh-century Spain and Gaul through an examination of the ways ethnonyms were used in contemporary sources. Within the first section on Visigothic Spain, chapter one discusses the ‘Romans’ of the East—that is, the Byzantines—as portrayed by Isidore of Seville and John of Biclar. Chapter two covers ‘Romans’ of the West—the Hispano-Romans—who appear in John of Biclar’s Chronicle, a hagiographical Life, and civil and canon law. Chapter three discusses the use of ‘Goth’ as an ethnic descriptor, a religious identifier, and a political term. Chapter four begins the Gaul section with an examination of Gregory of Tours’ writings, showing that he wrote with a Roman mindset. Chapter five illustrates that Gregory’s contemporary, Venantius Fortunatus, selected ethnic labels like ‘Roman’ and ‘barbarian’ in his poems as rhetorical tools to allude and flatter. Chapter six shows how Fredegar, in the seventh century, employed ‘Frank’ as a political term more than his predecessors had, suggesting a change in mindset. Chapter seven confirms this change in hagiographical texts across the two centuries. Chapter eight examines the contemporary expectation that separate law codes should be written for each ethnic group and concludes that, while this encouraged ethnic diversity, it did not prevent individuals from identifying with the Franks politically. By distinguishing among different modes of identification these ethnonyms represented, we see that changes in political language facilitated changes in more traditionally ethnic language, and the shift from ‘Roman’ to other ethnic identities.

A pesquisa ter por objetivo analisar a escrita da história na Antigüidade Tardia à luz de dois dos mais importantes autores do período: Gregório de Tours e Isidoro de Sevilha. Desta forma, esperamos compreender as razões que levaram os autores a escolher o gênero histórico para narrar os acontecimentos que tomavam curso na Gália e na Hispânia. Defendemos que é só mediante a análise do papel outorgado pelos bispos aos francos e visigodos que é possível compreender efetivamente as intenções que motivaram a produção dos Decem Libri Historiarum e da Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum et Sueborum. / The objective of our research is analyze the writing of history in Late Antiquity in the light of the two most important authors of the period: Gregory of Tours and Isidore os Seville. Thereby, we aim to understand the reasons which made they choose the historical narrative gender to describe the events which took course in Gaul and Hispania. We advocate that it is only through the studing of the role awarded by the bishops to the Franks and Visigoths that is possible to appreciate the intentions which motivated the production of the Decem Libri Historiarum and the Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum et Sueborum.

A presente tese é sobre gnosticismo, doutrina religiosa da Antiguidade tardia, em sua relação com a poesia. Procura circunscrever seu âmbito, definir suas características e localizar seus principais temas: entre outros, o dualismo, os mito do demiurgo, das duas almas, do andrógino primordial, sua noção do tempo e sua relação com hermetismo, astrologia e alquimia. Mostra como mitos e temas gnósticos e até um estilo, um modo gnóstico de escrever, reaparecem ou são retomados por poetas românticos, simbolistas e modernistas, inclusive aqueles de língua portuguesa. Entre outros, examina William Blake, Novalis, Gérard de Nerval, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, Lautréamont, Breton, Fernando Pessoa, Dario Veloso e Hilda Hilst. Sustenta que, sendo arcaico e anacrônico em seu dualismo e sua complexa cosmovisão e teologia, ao mesmo tempo o gnosticismo pode ser associado a uma mentalidade moderna e, como parte dela, a criações literárias, algumas inovadoras, pelo caráter sincrético e por formular uma crítica total, cósmica, na era da crítica. Também mostra como poetas não apenas absorveram ou reproduziram aquela doutrina, mas o fizeram de modo pessoal e original, transformando-a e reinventando-a. E, principalmente, como, utilizando suas categorias e temas, tentaram promover uma subversão do senso comum, da percepção instituída do mundo, justificando paralelos do gnosticismo como misticismo rebelde com a rebelião romântica e seus continuadores. / The present thesis is about Gnosticism, the religious doctrine of Late Antiquity, in its relationship to poetry. The focus is to establish the realm of Gnosticism, to define its characteristics, and to locate its main themes. Dualism, the myth of the demiurge, the two souls, the primordial androgynous, its notion of time, and relations of Gnosticism with Hermetism, Astrology and Alchemy are, amongst others, some of the subjects and themes. The thesis shows how Gnostic myths and subjects and even a Gnostic style of writing reappear or is resumed by romantic poets, symbolists and modernists, including those of Portuguese language. Among others, examines William Blake, Novalis, Gérard de Nerval, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, Lautréamont, Breton, Fernando Pessoa, Dario Veloso and Hilda Hilst. Holds that Gnosticism, being archaic and anachronic in its dualism, complex weltanschauung and theology, can be associated at the same time with a modern mentality and, as part of it, with literary creations, some innovative, for its syncretism and its formulation of a total and cosmic review in the era of the criticism. Finally, also shows how poets didn\'t just absorb or reproduce that doctrine, but that they did it in a personal and original way, transforming and reinventing Gnosticism. And, most outstandingly, how, using its categories and themes, poets encouraged subversion of the common sense, and the formal perception of the world, therefore justifying parallels of Gnosticism as a rebellious mysticism with the Romantic rebellion and its followers.

Le IVe siècle de notre ère représente indéniablement un tournant majeur dans l’histoire de l’Europe occidentale. Le passage du christianisme du statut de culture marginale d’une communauté religieuse à celui de pôle culturel et normatif à l’échelle d’une société constitue une transition caractéristique de l’Antiquité tardive, qui s’est d’abord opérée sur le terrain des systèmes sociaux de référence que sont le temps et l’espace – lieux d’expression identitaire. La richesse documentaire de l’"Vrbs" ajoutée à sa position de capitale historique et de cité de première importance pour le christianisme en font un cadre d’étude singulier. Cette enquête sur le partage du temps et de l’espace, entre la victoire du Pont Milvius (312) et le sac d’Alaric (410), propose une reconstruction des temps de la cité et une exploration des mécanismes de développement de l’organisation calendaire de l’Église et d’insertion au sein de la trame temporelle urbaine (partie 1). Sur la base d’un catalogue qui actualise le "LTVR(S)", elle reconstitue la topographie polythéiste et examine l’inscription de l’ancrage matériel du culte chrétien au sein du territoire romain (partie 2). Au travers de ces analyses transversales et d’études de cas (partie 3), elle tente aussi de comprendre des modes d’interaction, de coexistence religieuse au sein d’une société. La recherche replace le curseur sur la continuité plutôt que la rupture. Elle révèle un modèle prioritairement intégratif et une stratégie de conformité aux dynamiques romaines dans le partage du temps et de l’espace. Elle argumente sur une cohabitation religieuse globalement pacifique portée par un investissement identitaire commun focalisé sur la "Romanitas". / The fourth century AD is admittedly a major turning point in the history of Western Europe. The evolution of Christianity from the status of a marginal culture within a religious group to that of a cultural and normative pole within society constitutes an important transition specific to Late Antiquity. This transition from margin to norm started from the social frameworks of time and space, acting as strong identity markers. The great amount of evidence from the "Vrbs", its position as historical capital, as its recognized status as important city for the development of Christianity, make it a specific research framework. This study, which focuses on the sharing of time and space between the victory of the Milvius Bridge (312) and the sack of Alaric (410), reconstructs the organization of the times in the city and explores the mechanisms behind the development of the calendar structure of the Church within this urban space (part 1). On the basis of a catalogue that brings up to date the "LTVR(S)", this study rebuilds the polytheistic topography and scrutinizes the material inscription of the Christian cult on the Roman territory (part 2). On the basis of these cross-sectional analyses and case studies (part 3), it also attempts at understanding the modes of religious co-existence and interaction within a society. The results point towards a sense of continuity rather than breaking. This dissertation reveals a model that favours integration and conformation strategies to the Roman dynamics in the sharing of time and space. It argues in favour of a religious cohabitation mostly peaceful led by a common identity investment focused on the "Romanitas".

Appliqués au « Palais de Trajan » (Bosra, Syrie du Sud), les moyens de l’architecture comparée et de l’archéologie sont mis en œuvre pour restituer dans ses formes et son emploi cette vaste résidence urbaine de l’Antiquité Tardive. Les relevés précisent les procédés constructifs et constatent leur variété, les fouilles mettent au jour des thermes privés, équipement luxueux, le matériel exhumé permet de dater la construction des bâtiments et apporte des indications sur le décor disparu, le mode de vie ou la personnalité de ses habitants. Comparer cette architecture avec celle de la région basaltique et d’autres grandes villes de l’Empire aide à interpréter les vestiges et à restituer, au moins hypothétiquement et à l’aide d’une maquette numérique, les parties abolies. Sa taille et le raffinement de ses bâtiments, la présence d’une salle triconque et de bains privés, des couvertures en coupole nécessairement restituées, autorisent à promouvoir l’édifice en résidence officielle. L’inventaire des monuments fréquentés et édifiés alors, édifices publics, éléments urbains, sanctuaires, et l’analyse de leur position dans la ville participent à définir le rang de ce palais et à identifier ses occupants. C’est finalement sa proximité avec la plus grande église de Bosra, plus qu’une mise en parallèle avec les quelques groupes épiscopaux contemporains avérés, qui, l’affectant éventuellement au patrimoine de l’Église, soutient l’hypothèse d’y voir le palais de fonction du métropolite. En outre, cette revue du paysage de Bosra au VIe siècle met en lumière la diversité des monuments, celle des sources disponibles pour les approcher et ouvre des perspectives pour les recherches futures. / The disciplines of comparative architecture and archaeology are combined in this study of the “Trajan’s Palace”, vast urban residence from the Late Antique Period in Bosra, southern Syria. The surveys detail the variety of the construction processes, the excavations highlight the luxuriousness of the private thermal baths, while the small finds not only provide positive dates for the various construction phases, but also evidence of decorative features no longer extant, together with the personality and lifestyle of the occupants. A comparison of the architecture with that of other edifices from the basalt region and other major cities throughout the Roman Empire supports an interpretation of the remains and, with the assistance of a digital model, the reconstruction, at least hypothetically, of the missing sections. The size and refinement of constructions, the presence of a triconchos and private bath, together with restored domes, endorse the identification of the building as an official residence. An inventory of other monuments in use or constructed at that time, public buildings, urban elements, and sanctuaries, and an analysis of its position in the city help to specify the rank of this palace and to identify its occupants. Finally, itsproximity to the largest church in Bosra, rather than a comparison with other known contemporary episcopal complexes, possibly assigning it to the Church’s heritage, sustains the hypothesis that it was the official palace of the metropolitan see. This review of the Bosra landscape highlights the diversity of the monuments and the variety of sources available to study them, while opening prospects for future investigation and study.