Cisalpine Gaul. Social and economic history from 49 B.C. to the death of Trajan.

Aus der Bibliothek von Prof. Wolfgang Haase, langj�igem Herausgeber der ANRW und des International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT) / From the library of Prof. Wolfgang Haase, long-time editor of ANRW and the International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT). - besto�n und leicht berieben, Einband klaffend, Fu�chnitt unregelm�g und teils faserig / scuffed and lightly rubbed, cover gaping, bottom edge irregular and partly fibrous. - PREFACE The peculiar interest of the history of North Italy under the early Empire lies in the exact degree of civilization which had been reached there, in many ways more similar to that of the most highly Romanized provinces than to that of the rest of the Italian Peninsula. The reasons for the late development, which stand out even more strongly in the period of � Irredentism� under the late Republic, are still a fruitful field for study; and it may be that they lie as much in geography which gives the Po Valley a close connexion with the transalpine lands, as in the purely historical fact, which in itself needs further explanation, that the Romans were so late in penetrating to this fertile plain. Here, however, the causes have been taken for granted, and an attempt has been made to concentrate on the resemblances and differences between the Cisalpina and the rest of Italy, first in regard to the type of men who lived in the north, and then to the economic conditions under which they lived and to the artistic and religious products of their ideas. In particular, it will be seen that the existence of a large �native problem� attracted the notice of the Imperial Government, and gave rise, to take one detail, to the peculiar nature of the North Italian sevirate. At the same time the recent provincializa- tion of the Cisalpina awoke some self-consciousness in many of the inhabitants about their position as Italians, and the expression of this feeling throws some light on the meaning of the all-important concept �Italia� in Roman times. It will be seen too that the various branches of the Army and the Senate received their maximum contribution from North Italy about half a century later than from the districts farther south. Nevertheless the population of many towns was on the increase in the first century of the Empire, industry was exceptionally flourishing, and Cisalpine agriculture could show some resilience even against the troubles which overtook farmers in the reign of Trajan, though in this respect the owners could do no more than put off the evil day, mainly because their land was so fertile. In general, then, social and economic developments lagged fifty years behind the similar developments in older Italy. But as regards the century and a half covered by this book the delay ensured that this age should be the most prosperous in the history of Cisalpina, beginning with Virgil and with the brilliant economic life described by Strabo and ending with the philanthropic political power of the Younger Pliny and his circle. / CONTENTS I. GEOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE II. THE AUGUSTAN SETTLEMENT III. COMMUNICATIONS IV. THE POPULATION�DISTRIBUTION V. THE POPULATION�COMPOSITION . VI. THE UPPER CLASSES VIL MILITARY SERVICE VIII. AGRICULTURE�PRODUCE AND THE SOIL IX. AGRICULTURE�ESTATES AND RETURNS X. INDUSTRY XI. RELIGION XII. VIRGIL AND CISALPINE CULTURE . XIII. THE DECLINE OF CISALPINE INDEPENDENCE GENERAL INDEX MAPS North-West Italy North-East Italy.