Papers by Wouter Vanacker
Afrika Focus, Dec 2014
The colonial image of endemic political and economic antagonism between nomadic and sedentary gro... more The colonial image of endemic political and economic antagonism between nomadic and sedentary groups in the context of Roman North Africa should be discarded. Likewise, the rigid adherence to symbiosis and cooperation in more recent studies are based on a rather one-sided reading of anthropological literature. For the analysis of literary, epigraphic and archaeological sources, supported by insights derived from anthropology, shows that political and economic integration trajectories were much more complex, diverse, and dynamic.
Revue Belge de Philologie et d'Histoire/Belgisch Tijdschrift voor Filologie en Geschiedenis
Historia. Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte
MNEMOSYNE
Gaius’ decision to dissolve the protectorate of Mauretania and to depose its client king, Ptolema... more Gaius’ decision to dissolve the protectorate of Mauretania and to depose its client king, Ptolemaeus, led to the outbreak of the Revolt of Aedemon (AD 40). This paper will develop a number of innovative thoughts and hypotheses concerning the extent of this rebellion and its possible impact on the deposition of Ptolemaeus, as well as the role of the Romans in its suppression. The main aim is to explore the connection between this revolt, Trajanus’ famous general Lusius Quietus (cos. AD 117?), and the Baquates, an indigenous Mauretanian tribe. I will suggest that Lusius Quietus was descended from a chief of a (semi-)nomadic tribe who supported the Roman cause during the Revolt of Aedemon. Considering the setting and dimension of this revolt, as well as the unrest in Mauretania at the time of Lusius Quietus’ execution by Hadrianus, I argue that this tribe can be identified as the Baquates. This reconstruction suggests a long-lasting and particularly positive relationship between this tribe and Rome. It allows for a further reconsideration of the relationship between (semi-)nomadic and Roman/sedentary groups in Roman North Africa, to the detriment of one-sided analytical schemes that stress endemic hostility.
Paper presented at the XI Impact of Empire Workshop 2013 (New York)
LATOMUS
Numismatic sources from the protectorate of Mauretania have been overlooked significantly in mode... more Numismatic sources from the protectorate of Mauretania have been overlooked significantly in modern historical research concerning the conflicts in Mauretania and the province of Africa Proconsularis—particularly during the early first century AD. Accordingly, this paper aims to fill the void and intends to highlight and address the importance associated with the reconstruction of the Gaetulian War and the Revolt of Tacfarinas—both of which constitute major rebellions on the southern fringes of the Roman Empire. The analysis of the numismatic data leads to alternative reconstructions—not merely of the date of the Revolt of Tacfarinas but also concerning the overall role and successfulness of the client kings of Mauretania in ensuring the overthrow of the (semi)nomadic tribes who populated the North African interior at this time. Importantly, these considerations led subsequently to significant insights concerning the downfall of the protectorate.
Cases of insurgence provide valuable clues for the character of Roman imperial rule in the provin... more Cases of insurgence provide valuable clues for the character of Roman imperial rule in the provinces. On the one hand, they allow us to gain an insight in the effectiveness of the Roman administration. On the other, as acts of negative negotiation of imperial policy, they provide an opportunity to measure not merely the (in)effectiveness of positive negotiation modes, like diplomacy and patronage, but also to grasp the limits of indigenous tolerance towards the political, cultural and economic integration of the region in the Roman Empire. Moreover, the characteristics of the acts of insurgence can often be reconnected with the particularities of the indigenous socio-political, cultural and economic structures. Thus, the examination of the cases of indigenous insurgence in the Central Balkan region - once described by Syme as “the keystone of the imperial arch” - can elucidate much more than merely the more or less bumpy trajectories of political incorporation of the indigenous population.
Along and within the imperial boundaries in North Africa Rome encountered numerous nomadic tribes... more Along and within the imperial boundaries in North Africa Rome encountered numerous nomadic tribes and confederations. The aim of this paper is to give a short overview and evaluation of the different perspectives of modern research on the relations between nomads and sedentarists in North Africa during the Roman period. It is argued that the rise of the symbiosis perspective has offered a valuable counterweight against the traditionalist view of opposition and antagonism. However, scholars should be aware of the fact that the various sources point to differentiated integration trajectories, both negative and positive. More attention should be paid to the various motives of Roman and indigenous actors which moulded and shaped these integration trajectories, and the specific contexts in which they appear.
Kultura i Polityka / Culture and Politics, Jan 1, 2010
... Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 1019402. ... more ... Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 1019402. Record Type, journalArticle. Author, Wouter Vanacker [802000275171] - Ghent [email protected]. Title, Aspects of the integration of the periphery in the Roman ...
Doctoral Thesis by Wouter Vanacker
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Papers by Wouter Vanacker
Doctoral Thesis by Wouter Vanacker