Archaeology Lecture with Kimberly Bowes
Kimbery Bowes (University of Pennsylvania) will speak on "The Economic Lives of the Roman 90%". Lunch will be at 12, the lecture will be at 12:30.
Lecture Abstract:
How did the majority of Romans get by? What were their strategies for survival? This talk describes how the Roman world created a set of bitter challenges and opportunistic hustles for everyone from farmers and craftspeople to day laborers and slaves. Working people co-produced a consumer revolution, making and buying everything from fine pottery to children’s toys. Many of the poorest working people lived with - but not on - wages. And Romans’ most daunting challenge was the struggle to save. These economies of survival were shared by a wide swath of people, blurring the lines between genders, ages, and legal status. Using the lives of three Roman families, this talk lays out a new vision of the Roman economy, one constructed from the bottom up.
Bryn Mawr College welcomes the full participation of all individuals in all aspects of campus life. Should you wish to request a disability-related accommodation for this event, please contact the event sponsor/coordinator. Requests should be made as early as possible.