On Metals, Grasses, and Mollusks: A Local History of Ecology, Economy, and Empire in Roman Iberia

After the Iberian Peninsula was conquered and its territory brought into the Roman Empire, its abundant ores were mined on an unprecedented scale, feeding into coinage, lead pipes, and other objects, and contributing to levels of pollution not seen again until the Industrial Revolution. This intensification of mining has often been used as a proxy for economic growth, evidence for Rome’s unmitigated power to harness provincial resources. This is just one part of the story. In this talk, I take a local perspective, examining mining and its effects on the communities and landscapes of southeast Iberia following conquest. This region also had botanical and marine resources, long exploited by local communities, who reacted to Roman mining in divergent ways. Weavers of local grasses shifted their production strategies, supplying equipment for Roman mining. By contrast, harvesters of a large mollusk species, who once collaborated closely with miners, broke ties with the industry. Ultimately, I show the important role that local decision making played in the organization of production and the experience of empire in Roman Iberia.

Reception will follow.