Port economies and maritime trade in the Roman Mediterranean, 166 BC to AD 300
This thesis focuses on the economies of Roman ports and their role in the facilitation and organization of maritime trade, combining both terrestrial and maritime archaeological evidence as well as literary and epigraphic material. The first half of the thesis examines Mediterranean ports from a panoptic level in order to address questions of systems of trade, connectivity and economic development. In doing so, I focus on three particular areas of material culture: ceramics, shipwreck cargoes (typically composed of amphorae, metal ingots or stone) and epigraphy. The second half of the thesis focuses on two case studies, southern Turkey and southern France. For each region, I explore the economic factors which led to the development of each region and the ways in which ports enabled this development. I consider the impact of landscape, the usage of natural resources and the extent of production for both local consumption and export. Importantly, I examine the regional connections of the two regions and their interactions within the wider Mediterranean. I develop a model for the development of ports along each coastline and their degree of integration into the trading network of the Roman Mediterranean. Building
Rice, Candace Michele
Archeology ; Maritime archaeology ; Roman archeology ; Economic and Social History ; History of the ancient world ; Roman archaeology ; Roman maritime trade ; Roman economy
Port economies and maritime trade in the Roman Mediterranean, 166 BC to AD 300. This thesis focuses on the economies of Roman ports and their role in the facilitation and organization of maritime trade, combining both terrestrial and maritime archaeological evidence as well as literary and epigraphic material. The first half of the thesis examines Mediterranean ports from a panoptic level in order to address questions of systems of trade, connectivity and economic development. In doing so, I focus on three particular areas of material culture: ceramics, shipwreck cargoes (typically composed of amphorae, metal ingots or stone) and epigraphy. The second half of the thesis focuses on two case studies, southern Turkey and southern France. For each region, I explore the economic factors which led to the development of each region and the ways in which ports enabled this development. I consider the impact of landscape, the usage of natural resources and the extent of production for both local consumption and export. Importantly, I examine the regional connections of the two regions and their interactions within the wider Mediterranean. I develop a model for the development of ports along each coastline and their degree of integration into the trading network of the Roman Mediterranean. Building
port economy maritime_trade roman mediterranean focus economy roman port role organization maritime_trade combine terrestrial maritime archaeological_evidence well literary_epigraphic material first_half examines mediterranean_port level order_address question system trade connectivity economic_development focus_three particular area material_culture ceramic shipwreck cargo typically compose amphora metal ingot stone epigraphy second_half focus two_case study southern turkey southern_france region explore economic_factor lead development region way port enable development consider impact landscape usage natural_resource extent production local consumption export importantly examine regional connection two_region interaction within_wide mediterranean develop_model development port along coastline degree integration trading network roman mediterranean building