Why read Becoming Roman?

Book cover of Becoming Roman: The Origins of Provincial Civilization in Gaul

Book description

This book is a study of the process conventionally termed 'Romanization' through an investigation of the experience of Rome's Gallic provinces in the late Republic and early empire. Beginning with a rejection of the concept of 'Romanization' it describes the nature of Roman power in Gaul and the Romans' own…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Becoming Roman as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Jordan Baker

Author

While this is a rather scholarly book with a bit of an intimidating title, I was surprised by how enjoyable of a read it was.

Through this work, Woolf explores what it meant to be a native to Gaul, the traumatic experience of the Roman conquest (estimates of Gaulish deaths are in the millions), and how the Gauls and Romans shaped the culture of the region moving forward.

With expert skill, Woolf shows that the process of romanization in Gaul was not just a case of Roman forcing the Gauls to act Roman or the Gauls imitating Roman ways to…

From Jordan's list on that will hook you on history.