Introduction: The Question of Romanization – To Be or Not To Be (Roman)?

Few issues in current Roman scholarship proved more engaging and enduring (and occasionally controversial and disruptive) than the discourse on Romanization. The perception of being Roman, or not being Roman, in a world that was dominated or at least administered by the Roman state is a question of central importance to all aspects of Roman Studies in art, architecture, literature, and history. The concept not only opens the door for politically relevant discourse on the nature of cultural and national identities, it also defines the way that we look at art and architecture made by groups with different identities, Roman or other. It seems opportune to add our voice to the chorus here in a generalized and introductory way to offer an overview, although this subject will come up in the following chapters linked to specific historical or regional contexts where it will be discussed further (see the collection of essays in Mattingly 1997, esp. 7–24; also Barrett, 51–64).