Chapter 20
Bithynia and Pontus
Owen Doonan,
Owen Doonan
Search for more papers by this authorOwen Doonan,
Owen Doonan
Search for more papers by this authorBook Editor(s):Barbara Burrell,
Barbara Burrell
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 14 March 2024
Abstract
The dual province of Bithynia and Pontus formed a “periphery within” the Roman Empire: a sparsely populated landscape in one of the most urbanized parts of the Empire, known for its rugged land and people and rival local dynasties. Nonetheless, it produced numerous philosophers, orators, and scholars whose preserved writings document and enrich the history of the province. This chapter examines the process of Romanization in this complex region, with particular emphasis on how urban and rural landscapes were reshaped to fit its unique role within the Roman world system.
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