Bread and Soil in Ancient Rome: Environmental Challenge and Cultural Response (Zoom)

Bread and Soil in Ancient Rome: Environmental Challenge and Cultural Response (Zoom)

Spring (9 - 13 hours) | Registration closed 4/8/2024

Online Lebanon, NH 03766 United States

Online Meeting

4/12/2024-5/17/2024

9:30 AM-11:30 AM EDT on Fri

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$70.00

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Ancient Rome flourished because it was supported by a mosaic of resilient ecosystems and challenging soil conditions that produced wheat for bread, grapes for wine, and olives for oil. This unusual triad of crops provided enough food to feed burgeoning metropolises, especially Rome, and fuel a military machine spread over a vast geographic region. We’ll explore this combination of food challenges and cultural resilience based on our modern knowledge of the climate and geography of the Mediterranean Sea basin, linked to the science of its soils and ecosystems.

Our focus will be on the transition from the Roman Republic in the 3rd century BC through civil wars, the assassination of Julius Caesar, and the nascent Roman Empire and Pax Romana 250 years later. This narrative invites us to ask probing questions about Roman history and its lessons for the fate of 21st century societies facing similar challenges: What can we learn from events in this historical period of tumultuous transitions that speak to the evolution and resilience of our culture? What can it teach us about evolving ethics of food supplies grown regionally and traded from afar?


James, Bruce

Bruce James received a BA in chemistry and environmental studies from Williams, followed by MS and PhD degrees in soil science from UVM. During these studies, he developed a keen interest in interdisciplinary learning related to the course topic that he used in his teaching at the University of Maryland, College Park, for 29 years. Now retired, he continues to thrive on new learning and ideas related to sustainability, environmental science, soils, environmental history, and agriculture.