Rural baths and bathing : socio-cultural interactions in the Romano-British countryside
In the Roman Empire, an appreciation of baths and bathing was among the few common socio-cultural traits shared by people with the most diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Perhaps because of their popularity in antiquity and their archaeological distinctiveness, antiquarians, as well as many modern scholars, have tended to take for granted the function of these buildings and, more importantly, their socio-cultural significance. This is particularly true in a provincial context such as Britannia, where Romanists have been primarily interested in military and public baths, neglecting the variegated field of rural bathing. Focusing on two specific regions, South-East and Central South-West England, this doctoral research reviews in detail the appearance and diffusion of privately-owned rural baths, explaining their chronological and regional variations, their functioning, costs, decoration, and social implications. By looking at this type of built material culture, this thesis aims to contribute to and expand current understanding of the cultural and social changes taking place in Britain following Roman conquest and annexation and during the consolidation of Roman rule. In particular, I have investigated
Savani, Giacomo
Rural baths and bathing : socio-cultural interactions in the Romano-British countryside. In the Roman Empire, an appreciation of baths and bathing was among the few common socio-cultural traits shared by people with the most diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Perhaps because of their popularity in antiquity and their archaeological distinctiveness, antiquarians, as well as many modern scholars, have tended to take for granted the function of these buildings and, more importantly, their socio-cultural significance. This is particularly true in a provincial context such as Britannia, where Romanists have been primarily interested in military and public baths, neglecting the variegated field of rural bathing. Focusing on two specific regions, South-East and Central South-West England, this doctoral research reviews in detail the appearance and diffusion of privately-owned rural baths, explaining their chronological and regional variations, their functioning, costs, decoration, and social implications. By looking at this type of built material culture, this thesis aims to contribute to and expand current understanding of the cultural and social changes taking place in Britain following Roman conquest and annexation and during the consolidation of Roman rule. In particular, I have investigated
rural bath bath socio_cultural interaction romano_british countryside roman_empire appreciation bath bath among common socio_cultural trait share people diverse cultural social_background perhaps popularity antiquity archaeological distinctiveness antiquarian well many modern_scholar tend take_grant function building importantly socio_cultural significance particularly true provincial context britannia primarily interested military public bath neglect variegated field rural focusing specific_region south_east central south_west_england doctoral review detail appearance diffusion privately owned rural bath explain chronological_regional variation functioning cost decoration social_implication look type build material_culture aim_contribute expand current cultural social_change take_place britain follow roman_conquest annexation consolidation roman_rule particular investigated