Visiting Research Scholar Lecture: Food practices as a heuristic tool for the study of the 'transformation of the Roman world'

The historical period designated by the expression “transformation of the Roman world” by a scholarly tradition willing to replace the idea of decline previously associated with it, is still rather mysterious. From a cultural point of view, two main phenomena are considered predominant in this transformation: the accentuated presence of “barbarians” and the installation of their “successor” kingdoms on the one hand, and the so-called “Christianization” of Roman society on the other. In both cases, the nature of these two evolutions and whether they were perceived as external “invasions” (violent or not), or as internal phenomena of the classical culture, is still strongly debated among historians. Approaching these questions by means of discourses on food and food practices has proven highly interesting, and has brought a new - and refreshing - perspective on this period. Roman authors clearly expressed their views on the good way of eating and offered harsh criticism to those who were ignorant or disrespectful of those rules. This point of view allows us to observe how the influence of both the Christian normative discourse and the barbarian presence has or has not impacted (and in which manner) Roman conceptions of food and, more generally, their way of life.

There will be a reception folowing the event.

To RSVP, please email isaw@nyu.edu.