Romans, Barbarians, and the Transformation of the Roman World : Cultural Interaction and the Creation of Identity in Late Antiquity

One of the most significant transformations of the Roman world in Late Antiquity was the integration of barbarian peoples into the social, cultural, religious, and political milieu of the Mediterranean world. The nature of these transformations was considered at the sixth biennial Shifting Frontiers in Late Antiquity Conference, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in March of 2005, and this volume presents an updated selection of the papers given on that occasion, complemented with a few others,. These 25 studies do much to break down old stereotypes about the cultural and social segregation of Roman and barbarian populations, and demonstrate that, contrary to the past orthodoxy, Romans and barbarians interacted in a multitude of ways, and it was not just barbarians who experienced "ethnogenesis" or cultural assimilation. The same Romans who disparaged barbarian behavior also adopted aspects of it in their everyday lives, providing graphic examples of the ambiguity and negotiation that characterized the integration of Romans and barbarians, a process that altered the concepts of identity of both populations. The resultant late antique polyethnic cultural world, with cultural frontiers between Romans and barbarians that became increasingly permeable in both directions, does much to help explain how the barbarian settlement of the west was accomplished with much less disruption than there might have been, and how barbarian populations were integrated seamlessly into the old Roman world. Romans, Barbarians, and the Transformation of the Roman World: Cultural Interaction and the Creation of Identity in Late Antiquity 4 Contents 6 List of Figures and Table 10 Abbreviations 14 List of Contributors 16 Ralph W. Mathisen, Danuta Shanzer: Introduction 22 The Transformation of the Roman World 22 The Contributions 26 Part I: Constructing Images of the Impact and Identity of Barbarians 34 A. Literary Constructions of Barbarian Identity 36 1 Ralph W. Mathisen: Catalogues of Barbarians in Late Antiquity 38 The Cataloguing Tradition 38 Simple Lists 40 Descriptive Lists 48 Christian Ideology 49 Roots in Reality 51 2 Gillian Clark: Augustine and the Merciful Barbarians 54 3 Steven Fanning: Reguli in the Roman Empire, Late Antiquity, and the Early Medieval Germanic Kingdoms 64 4 Scott McDonough: Were the Sasanians Barbarians? Roman Writers on the “Empire of the Persians” 76 Writers from Diplomatic, Military, and Bureaucratic Circles 78 5 Jan Willem Drijvers: A Roman Image of the “Barbarian” Sasanians 88 Ammianus Marcellinus 90 Procopius 93 Agathias 94 Epilogue 96 B. Political and Religious Interpretations of Barbarian Activities 98 6 Amelia Robertson Brown: Banditry or Catastrophe?: History, Archaeology, and Barbarian Raids on Roman Greece 100 The Costobocs 101 The Heruls and Goths 103 The Visigoths of Alaric 109 7 Edward Watts: John Rufus, Timothy Aelurus, and the Fall of the Western Roman Empire 118 C. Imperial Manipulation of Perceptions of Barbarians 128 8 Yuval Shahar: Imperial Religious Unification Policy and its Divisive Consequences: Diocletian, the Jews, and the Samaritans 130 9 Elizabeth DePalma Digeser: Hellenes, Barbarians, and Christians: Religion and Identity Politics in Diocletian’s Rome 142 10 Cristiana Sogno: Barbarians as Spectacle: The Account of an Ancient “Embedded Reporter” (Symm. Or. 2.10–12) 154 An Embedded Reporter at Court 155 Barbarians as Spectacle 158 Part II: Cultural Interaction on the Roman/Barbarian Frontiers 164 A. Becoming Roman: Movements of People across the Frontier and the Effects of Imperial Policies 166 11 Cam Grey: The ius colonatus as a Model for the Settlement of Barbarian Prisoners-of-War in the Late Roman Empire? 168 Coloni, Colonatus, and the “Colonate” 171 Settlement of Barbarian Prisoners-of-War 177 Conclusions 180 12 Kimberly Kagan: Spies Like Us: Treason and Identity in the Late Roman Empire 182 The Nature of “Treason” 183 Treachery and Spying on the Eastern Frontier 183 The Case of Antoninus 183 More Spying on the Eastern Frontier 187 Treachery and Spying on the Northern Frontier 190 Conclusion 194 13 Ekaterina Nechaeva: The “Runaway” Avars and Late Antique Diplomacy 196 B. Becoming Roman: Social and Economic Interchange 204 14 Noel Lenski: Captivity and Romano-Barbarian Interchange 206 Roman Captives of Barbarians 207 Barbarian Captives of the Romans 213 Romano-Barbarian Interchange 215 15 Hartmut Ziche: Barbarian Raiders and Barbarian Peasants: Models of Ideological and Economic Integration 220 The Roman Economy and the Barbarians 221 Imaginary Raiders and Imaginary Peasants 224 The Autun Panegyricist 225 Other Barbarian Settlements 228 Themistius and the Goths 230 Barbarian Economies and Elites 233 Barbarian Raiders 237 Conclusions 239 C. A New Era of Accommodation 242 16 Salim Faraji: Kush and Rome on the Egyptian Southern Frontier: Where Barbarians Worshipped as Romans and Romans Worshipped as Barbarians 244 Kush, Rome, and their Common Frontier 244 Religious Encounter on the Frontier 246 Procopius 246 Paccius Maximus: Roman or Barbarian Nubian 248 Noubades and Blemmyes: Barbarians as Romans 249 17 Jason Moralee: Petra and the Saracens: New Evidence from a Recently Discovered Epigram 254 18 Linda Ellis: Elusive Places: A Chorological Approach to Identity and Territory in Scythia Minor (Second–Seventh Centuries) 262 From Terra Nullius to Tropaeum Traiani 263 The Limes of Human Relatedness 266 Church and the Reproduction of “Place” 268 Psychological Landscapes: From Bishops’ Signatures to Natio 270 Conclusion 272 19 Kevin Uhalde: Barbarian Traffic, Demon Oaths, and Christian Scruples (Aug. Epist. 46–47) 274 Scholarship and Style 275 Frontier Peace 277 Oath Documents 280 The Future of Fidelity 282 Part III: Creating Identity in the Post-Roman World 284 20 Andreas Schwarcz: Visigothic Settlement, Hospitalitas, and Army Payment Reconsidered 286 21 Luis A. García Moreno: Building an Ethnic Identity for a New Gothic and Roman Nobility: Córdoba, 615 AD 292 22 Scott de Brestian: Vascones and Visigoths: Creation and Transformation of Identity in Northern Spain in Late Antiquity 304 23 Patrick Périn, Michel Kazanski: Identity and Ethnicity during the Era of Migrations and Barbarian Kingdoms in the Light of Archaeology in Gaul 320 Initial Assumptions 325 Migrants Limited in Number 325 Migration often Peaceful and Unrecorded 325 Migrants Well Dispersed throughout Late Roman Society 326 Mixed Migrants, Ethnically and Culturally Heterogeneous 326 Inevitable Acculturation of Migrating Minorities 326 Mobile Elites with an International Culture 329 Archaeological Criteria Pertinent to Questions of Identity and Ethnicity 331 Possible Sources of Archaeological Evidence for Ethnicity 331 Funerary Practices 331 Ethnographic Customs 333 Traditional Female Garb 336 Handmade Ceramics 342 “Germanic Animal Style” Ornament 343 Movements of Groups and Individuals 343 Germanic Auxiliaries in Late Roman Gaul (ca. 350–ca. 450) 343 Eastern Barbarians in Gaul (Late Fourth Century to First Half of Fifth Century) 345 A Common Style of Prestige for Military Elites (ca. 450–500) 348 Individual Outsiders in Merovingian Gaul (Late Fifth Century to Seventh Century) 348 24 Michael E. Jones: Text, Artifact, and Genome: The Disputed Nature of the Anglo-Saxon Migration into Britain 352 Part IV: Epilogue: Modern Constructions of Barbarian Identity 362 25 Bailey Young, Barbara Oehlschlaeger-Garvey: Auguste Moutié, Pioneer of Merovingian Archaeology, and the Spurlock Merovingian Collection at the University of Illinois 364 Auguste Moutié and the Butte des Gargans Excavations 364 E.C. Hayes and the “Baudon Collection” 370 Barbarians, Romans, Merovingians, and La Butte des Gargans 373 Index 380 One Of The Most Significant Transformations Of The Roman World In Late Aniquity Was The Integration Of Barbarian Peoples Into The Social, Cultural, Religious, And Political Milieu Of The Medierranean World ... These 25 Studies Do Much To Break Down Old Stereotypes About The Cultural And Social Segregation Of Roman And Barbarian Populations, And Demonstrate That, Contrary To The Past Orthodoxy, Romans And Barbarians Interacted In A Multitude Of Ways, And It Was Not Just Barbarians Who Experienced 'ethnogenesis' Or Cultural Assimilation. The Same Romans Who Disparaged Barbarian Behavior Also Adopted Aspects Of It In Their Everyday Lives, Providing Graphic Examples Of The Ambiguity And Negotiation That Characterized The Integration Of Romans And Barbarians, A Process That Altered The Concepts Of Identity Of Both Populations. The Resultant Late Antique Polyethnic Cultural World, With Cultural Frontiers Beween Romans And Barbarians That Became Increasingly Permeable In Both Directions, Does Much To Help Explain How The Barbarian Settlement Of The West Was Accomplished With Much Less Disruption Than There Might Have Been, And How Barbarian Populations Were Integrated Seamlessly Into The Old Roman World--publisher Description, P. [4] Of Dust Jacket. Pt. I: Constructing Images Of The Impact And Identity Of Barbarians -- Literary Constructions Of Barbarian Identity -- Catalogues Of Barbarians In Late Antiquity -- Augustine And The Merciful Barbarians -- 'reguli' In The Roman Empire, Late Antiquity And The Early Medieval Germanic Kingdoms -- Were The Sasanians Babarians? Roman Writers Ofn The Empire Of The Persians -- A Roman Image Of The Barbarian Sasanians -- Political And Religious Interpretations Of Barbarian Activities -- Banditry Or Catastrophe?: History, Archaeology And Barbarian Raids On Roman Greece -- Imperial Manupulation Of Perceptions Of Barbarians Raids On Roman Greece -- Johan Rufus, Timothy Aelurus And The Fall Of The Western Roman Empire -- Imperial Manupulation Perceptions Of Barbarians -- Imperial Religious Unification Policy And Its Divisive Consequences: Diocletian, The Jews And The Samaritans -- Hellenes, Barbarians And Christians: Religion And Identity Politics In Diocletian's Rome --^ Barbarians As Spectacle: The Account Of An Ancient Embedded Reporter (symm. (or. 2.10-12) -- Pt. Ii: Cultural Interaction On The Roman/barbarian Frontiers -- Becoming Roman: Movements Of People Across The Frontier And The Effects Of Imperial Policies -- The 'ius Colonatus' As A Model For The Settlement Of Barbarian Prisoner-of-war In The Late Roman Empire? -- Spies Like Us: Treason And Identity In The Late Roamn Empire -- The Runaway Avars And Late Antique Diplomacy -- Becoming Roman: Social And Economic Interchange -- Capitivity And Romano-barbarian Interchange -- Barbarian Raiders And Barbarian Peasants: Models Of Ideological And Economic Integration -- A New Era Of Accommodation -- Kush And Rome On The Egyptian Southern Frontier: Where Barbarians Worshipped As Romans And Romans Worshipped As Barbarians -- Petra And The Saracens: New Evidence From A Recently Discovered Epigram --^ Elusive Places: A Chronological Approach To Identity And Territory In Scythia Minor (second-seventh Centuries) -- Barbarian Traffic, Demon Oaths, And Christian Scruples (aug. Epist.46-47) -- Pt. Iii: Creating Identity In The Post-roman World -- Visigothic Settlement, 'hospitalitas And Army Payment Reconsidered -- Building And Ehtnic Idenity For A New Gothic And Roman Nobility: Cordoba, 615 A.d. -- Vascones And Visigoths: Creation And Transformation On Identity In Northern Spain In Late Antiquity -- Idenity And Ethnicity During The Era Of Migrations And Barbarian Kingdoms In The Light Of Archaeology In Gaul -- Text, Artifact And Genome: The Disputed Nature Of The Anglo-saxon Migration Into Britain -- Pt. Iv: Epilogue: Modern Constructions Of Barbarian Identity -- Auguste Moutie, Pioneer Of Merovingian Archaeology And The Spurlock Moerovingian Collection At The University Of Illinois. Edited By Ralph W. Mathisen And Danuta Shanzer. Papers Originally Delivered At The 6th Biennial Conference On Shifting Frontiers Of Late Antiquity, Held At The University Of Illinois, Urbana-champaign, In Mar. 2005. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "One of the most significant transformations of the Roman world in Late Aniquity was the integration of barbarian peoples into the social, cultural, religious, and political milieu of the Medierranean world ... These 25 studies do much to break down old stereotypes about the cultural and social segregation of Roman and barbarian populations, and demonstrate that, contrary to the past orthodoxy, Romans and barbarians interacted in a multitude of ways, and it was not just barbarians who experienced 'ethnogenesis' or cultural assimilation. The same Romans who disparaged barbarian behavior also adopted aspects of it in their everyday lives, providing graphic examples of the ambiguity and negotiation that characterized the integration of Romans and barbarians, a process that altered the concepts of identity of both populations. The resultant late antique polyethnic cultural world, with cultural frontiers between Romans and barbarians that became increasingly permeable in both directions, does much to help explain how the barbarian settlement of the west was accomplished with much less disruption than there might have been, and how barbarian populations were integrated seamlessly into the old Roman world"--Publisher description, p. [4] of dust jacket One of the most significant transformations of the Roman world between the fourth and seventh centuries C.E. was the integration of barbarian peoples into the social, cultural, religious, and political milieu of the Mediterranean world. Nowhere in the Roman world could the impact of the barbarians be escaped. The sixth biennial Shifting Frontiers in Late Antiquity Conference assembled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in March of 2005 with this as its theme, and the present volume publishes a selection of the papers given on that occasion. The contributions remind us that the t