The history of the Greek cities of Italy during the period of Roman conquest and under Roman rule form a fascinating case study of the processes of Roman expansion and assimilation and of Greek reactions to the presence of Rome. This book reassesses the role of Magna Graecia in Roman Italy and illuminates the mechanisms of Roman control and the process of acculturation. Specifically it explores the role of the Greek cities of Italy as cultural mediators between the Greek and Roman worlds. It is the first full length treatment of the region as a whole in English for over thirty years.

Preface Maps and Plates Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. The Geography and Early Settlement of Magna Graecia 3. Roman Conquest: Magna Graecia 350 - 270 BC 4.The Punic Wars 5. Treaties and Diplomacy 6. Decline and Recovery: Magna Graecia 200 BC - AD 14 7. East/West Relations: Italiotes and the Greek East 8. Economic Developments and Agrarian Problems 200 BC - AD 200 9. Ritual and Society: Cults and Cultural Transition 10. Administrative Structures and the Transformation of Poliical Life 11. Urban Society in Magna Graecia: Acculturation and Civic Identity 12. Epilogue. Magna Graecia in 200 AD Appendix Notes Bibliography Index