Reconstructing Pompeian Households
The study of Pompeian households has until recently been dominated by analyses of architectural patterns and wall paintings, as these are easily available for study.
Anthropogenic Air Pollution in Ancient Times
Egyptian historical records mention that when Nubian besieging troops cut off Hermopolis
Human labor and harbor capacity at Rome
This paper aims to reconstruct and suggest many of the aspects of Roman dock workers including their numbers, hiring practices, and unloading practices. The role of harbor capacity will also be reviewed to understand Rome’s ability to safely import several hundred thousand tons and prevent famine.
One of many blood-filled sources of entertainment for the Romans was the venationes, or wild beast hunts, that took place in amphitheaters for hundreds of years around the Roman Empire.
Climate Change and the Fall of the Roman Empire
McCormick explores what bio-molecular evidence and climate change data suggest about the impact of volcanic events on the collapse of the Roman Empire and the rise of Carolingian Europe.
Elephants as Enemies in Ancient Rome
The ancient Romans enjoyed watching spectacles in which elephants were tormented or killed because these animals had been endowed with symbolic significance.
Some reflections on ancient Greek attitudes to children as revealed in selected literature of the pre-Christian era
This study examines the ancient Greeks’ attitudes to children during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The investigation is limited to literary sources in selected pre-Christian texts.
Lead Poisoning in Ancient Rome
Lead was known to the ancients from at least the 4th millennium BC, but its use increased markedly during Roman times, to the extent that it became a health hazard. Mines and foundry furnaces caused air pollution; lead was extensively used in plumbing; domestic utensils were made of lead and pewter, and lead salts were used in cosmetics, medicines and paints.
Sustainability in the Archaeological Record: What Can We Learn From Past Cultures' Choices?
Sustainability in the Archaeological Record: What Can We Learn From Past Cultures’ Choices? Lecture by Jennifer R. Smith, associate professor, Earth and Planetary…
Popular and Imperial Response to Earthquakes in the Roman Empire
This thesis will survey ancient responses to earthquakes and examine the reasons for imperial relief.