Overview

Insularity - the state or condition of being an island - has played a key role in shaping the identities of populations inhabiting islands of the Mediterranean. As entities surrounded by water and usually possessing different landscapes and ecosystems from those of the mainland, islands allow for the potential to study both the land and the sea. Archaeologically, they have the potential to reveal distinct identities shaped by such forces as invasion, imperialism, colonialism, and connectivity. The theme of insularity and identity in the Roman period has not been the subject of a book length study but has been prevalent in scholarship dealing with the prehistoric periods. The papers in this book explore the concepts of insularity and identity in the Roman period by addressing some of the following questions: what does it mean to be an island? How has insularity shaped ethnic, cultural, and social identity in the Mediterranean during the Roman period? How were islands connected to the mainland and other islands? Did insularity produce isolation or did the populations of Mediterranean islands integrate easily into a common `Roman' culture? How has maritime interaction shaped the economy and culture of specific islands? Can we argue for distinct `island identities' during the Roman period? The twelve papers presented here each deal with specific islands or island groups, thus allowing for an integrated view of Mediterranean insularity and identity.

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9781785705809

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Reviews

The true value of the volume, however, lies in the island case-studies... These make the book a very useful compilation for those interested in the Mediterranean island experience in Roman times. * Current World Archaeology * The great value of this collection has to do with the way it shifts focus from the Roman Mediterranean as a whole to the experience of inhabitants of individual islands within the Mediterranean [...] This affordable, handsomely produced book has many photographs, mostly appropriate and clear. * Classical Journal * The present volume is an important methodological contribution for all those interested in insular studies more broadly, as many of the questions and problems raised therein can be applied to comparable contexts in various periods...the volume will also be welcome by those interested in the Roman Empire in general. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *

The true value of the volume, however, lies in the island case-studies... These make the book a very useful compilation for those interested in the Mediterranean island experience in Roman times. * Current World Archaeology *

Author Information

Anna Kouremenos is a Senior Associate member of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens specialising in the study of identity and material culture in the Greco-Roman world. Her research explores aspects of social, cultural, and island identities and focuses on bringing interdisciplinary perspectives to the fi eld of archaeology.

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