Network Ancient Colonialism

It is well known that colonization, and related forms of organized displacement such as diasporization, were crucial and formative components of the ancient world. From the Late Bronze Age onwards, a period of an unprecedented intensity of colonial migrations started that reshaped the geo-political and ethnic organization of the Mediterranean region as well as its landscapes and ecosystems drastically. However, the phenomenon has mostly been studied within disciplinary boundaries, resulting in a rather fragmented research field. This research network addresses this situation by creating an interdisciplinary research environment for the study of ancient colonial and diasporic practices, ideologies and their reception history.

The Network

This CRASIS network brings together scholars and students from Ancient History, Archaeology, Classics and Religious Studies working on the subject of ancient colonization. Aim is to form a solid interdisciplinary research network that stimulates cross-fertilization of ideas and methodologies, and organize various research- and teaching related events to promote such interdisciplinary networks. The RUG holds a lot of expertise on this topic: archaeologists have long investigated the nature and effects of Greek and Roman colonization in different parts of the Mediterranean, while within ancient history various projects on this theme (connectivity and Roman colonial communities, Roman colonialism and its reception history) are ongoing. Within Classics and religious studies scholarship focusses on colonial narratives and ideologies (e.g., Vergil’s Aeneid), ancient colonial reception history and the Jewish diaspora and diaspora literature (e.g., Philo of Alexandria). The network has also established close collaborative ties with external research institutes such as the KNIR, NIA, OIKOS anchoring innovation, Radboud University and Aarhus University.

Next Meeting

Mini-Symposium: Changing Strategies in Ancient Colonization  

When: Friday April 26th,  1 to 3 pm,

Where: Expositiezaal, Harmoniegebouw

Program:

•  Floris van den Eijnde (Utrecht University), Athenian Overseas Interests before the Classical Empire.

•  Brain Garnand (NINO),   Carthaginian Colonization in Comparative/Competitive Context: Aristocratic Shares in the Spoils of Territorial Expansion across the Western Mediterranean (400-200 BCE)

Followed by discussion

All are welcome!

Members

• Jeremia Pelgrom (Ancient History, Coordinator)
• Tymon de Haas (Archaeology, Coordinator)
• Eelco Glas (Aarhus University, External Coordinator)
• Maarten Schmaal (Ancient History, ReMA)
• Epameinondas Kazolis (Ancient History, ReMA)
• Jens Brinkers (Ancient History, ReMA)
• Andriani Stathopoulou ((Ancient History/Classics, MA)
• Jitse Daniels (Ancient History, PhD student)
• Martina Parini (Archaeology, PhD student)
• Daniel Pereira Sardinha (Archaeology, PhD student)
• Fernando Menendez-Marsh (Archaeology, PhD student)
• Silvia Stopponi (Classics, PhD student)
• Onno van Nijf (Ancient History)
• Peter Attema (Archaeology)
• Tesse Stek (Archaeology/KNIR)
• Anita Casarotto (Archaeology)
• Pieter B. Hartog (PThU)

External Members

• Brian Garnand (Nino, UVA)
• Marleen Termeer (RUN)
• Carly Crouch (RUN)
• Michel Tarpin (Grenoble University)
• Elisa Uusimäki (Aarhus University)
• Frederik Poulsen (University of Copenhagen)

Associated Research Projets and Networks

• Anchoring ancient colonization
• The Impact of Roman Imperialism in the West
• Ancient Colonisation in a Comparative Perspective
• Classical Roots of (Early) Modern Colonization
• The environmental impact of early Roman Expansion (and overarching Pontine Region Project)
• An Intersectional Analysis of Ancient Jewish Travel Narratives (ANINAN)
• Divergent Views of Diaspora in Ancient Judaism

Activities (including from associated Networks)

• Comparative Colonisation conference, 16-17 December 2021
• KNIR-cursus The Archaeology of early Roman Imperialism - Feb. 2022
• Research Proposal feedback meeting (Anouk Vermeulen-postdoc candidate), 16 May 2022
• Specialist workshop Centuriated landscapes in Italy and the Iberian peninsula: between
• methodological innovation and new historical insights at the KNIR - 28/29 June 2022
• Young scholar meeting in Groningen (with Michel Tarpin as Master)- 15 November 2022
• Anchoring Ancient Colonization Workshop - 1 and 2 December 2022.
• Young scholar event in Nijmegen (with Rolf Strootman as Master): 16 June 2023
• “Human Mobility and Identity Formation: Jewish and Christian Voices from Antiquity,” panel at the NGG biannual conference “Religion in Motion: Between Borders and Belonging” in Nijmegen, 1–3 November 2023.

Want to join? Contact the coordinators (j.pelgrom@rug.nl and Tymon.de.haas@rug.nl)