Kontakt

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Alexander Rubel
Director, senior research fellow
Institutul de Arheologie Iasi
Str. Codrescu, nr. 6, Pavilion H
700479 Iaşi

https://www.arheo.ro/

Email: rubel(at)arheo.ro

Seminar im Sommersemester 2023

"Roman Dacia and Moesia Inferior" (Hauptseminar BA)

Link zu campus:  82-068-GES31-V-S-HS-0914.20231.001

The seminar will deal with the Danube provinces comprising parts of present-day Romania and Bulgaria from different perspectives. The special features of this region with regard to military history, social history and the transmission of sources during the imperial period will be worked out on the basis of joint study of sources and presentations. The pre-Roman history of the region as well as aspects of Late Antiquity will also be considered.

1. Preliminary Meeting.
Introduction to geography and history of the Danube-Carpathian region, distribution of essays/presentations (online).
2. Before the Romans:
Getae and Dacians. The Iron Age in the Carpathian-Black Sea region. (online)
3. Source studies:
a) military diplomas and troop movements as main sources for the history of the Roman Danubian provinces.
b) epigraphy and historical demography in Dacia and Upper Moesia (online).
4. The Dacians and the Coming of Rome:
Traian's Dacian Wars and the Establishment of the Province (2 papers: "Trajan's Dacian Wars" and "Traian's Column: Monument and Historical Source") [beginning with this session: live in Eichstätt in June].
5. Administration and military in Roman Dacia.
Legions and auxiliaries in war and peace. (2 papers: "The defense system of the Dacian provinces", and "The fort of I. Ala Batavorum milliaria in Razboieni Cetate: New insights from actual research" lecture by seminar leader).
6. "After gold urges, at the gold hangs nevertheless everything" (Goethe).
Mining in Transylvania and the economy of Roman Dacia (2 presentations: "Gold and Salt Mining", "Economy and Society in Dacia").
7. Roman religion and Romanization in the Dacian provinces.
a. "Religions and cultic peculiarities in Dacia",
b. "Romanization as a research problem: Romanization without Dacians?"
8. Greek cities and Roman rule:
the historical development of the Black Sea coast (2 papers: "Histria before and during Roman rule", "Friends for life. Case study of a "foedus" treaty: Rome and Kallatis")
9. Life at the Black Sea shores.
(2 papers: "Ovid in Tomis/Constanta: Living among Barbarians and hoping to return to Rome ", "Economy and Society in Moesia Inferior").
10. The Barbarians Are Coming:
The Crisis of the 3rd Century and the Military Challenges of Late Antiquity. (2 papers: "Crisis and Abandonment of the Province of Dacia", "Of Goths and Huns: Moesia Inferior and the Danube Limes, 3rd-6th c.).
11. Coins and history:
What hoard finds can tell about the crisis in the Danubian provinces.
a. "Coinage of the Carpatho-Danubian area (overview)",
b. "Hoard finds in the 'Barbaricum' and the question of Roman payments (or booty?)"
12. The Late Antique defense system on the Lower Danube:
new strategies for new challenges?
13. Crisis or transformation?
Turn of the Times: Transylvania and the Lower Danube in Late Antiquity. 2 papers: "The gold treasures of Aparhida and the kingdom of the Gepids in Transylvania", "Refugees gain their right to stay: the Goths between expulsion and the construction of a new 'state within a state' after the Battle of Adrianople (378)".
14. Historical Legacy (Rezeptionsgechichte):
the long afterlife of the Dacians: nationalism and neopaganism in Romania in the 20th and 21st centuries.
 

Vita

Research Interests:

My research interests were focused first on Greek History and Archaeology of the Classical Period and Ancient Religions. Later also on Romanisation Studies, and Roman Military Archaeology. Recent-ly I am also interested in Late Antiquity, “Barbarians” and Migration. I always was and still am inter-ested in the Legacy of the Ancient World (in medieval and modern literature).

Education

• 2015
  2nd DPhil in German Studies (German Literature), University „A. I. Cuza“ Iasi, Romania (Supervisor Prof Andrei Corbea-Hoisie)
• 2013
  Habilitation (“Greeks, Romans and Barbarians. Classical Civilizations and their Heritage”), since then PhD advisor
• 2000
  DPhil in Ancient History, University of Konstanz, Germany “Stadt in Angst. Religion und Politik während des Peloponnesischen Krieges“ (advisor: Prof Wolfgang Schuller, 2nd advisor [„Zweitgutachter“] Prof Robert Parker)
• 1990-1995
  MA Degree in History and German Studies (Magister Artium, Master of Arts), University of Konstanz. I read: History, German Studies, Classics (Latin) and Philosophy
• 1980-1989
  Abitur (A-Levels) at “Gymnasium am Rittersberg” (Grammar School) in Kaiserslautern, Germany

Awards and Funding

• 2022
  Doctor honoris causa, University “Petre Andrei”, Iasi
• 2019-2020
  Elected Visiting Senior Fellow at Jesus College, Oxford
• 2017
  Visiting professorship at the University “Friedrich-Alexander” in Erlangen, Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte (Germany)
• 2016
  awarded “Vasile Pârvan”-Price of the Romanian Academy for the book “Fear and Loathing in Ancient Athens”.
• 2016
  Elected corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI)
• 1998
  Scholarship of the State (Land) Baden-Württemberg for the gifted: “Landesgraduiertenstipendium”
• 2013-2017
  PI and responsible researcher in the project “’The Other’ in Action. The Bar-barization of Rome and the Romanization of the World”, funded with ca. 270.000 £ by the Romanian research council (comparable to AHRC)
• 2017-2019
  PI and responsible researcher in the project “Beyond the Fringes of Empire. Roman Influence and Power north of the Danube and East of the Rhine” funded with ca. 200.000 £ by the Romanian research council.

Academic career:

• Since 2011
  director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Romanian Academy, Iasi, Romania
  (26 employees, 20 academic staff), comparable to a Max-Planck-Institute (non-university research institution).
• Since 2010
  Head of the Department of Classical Archaeology at the Archaeological Insti-tute of the Romanian Academy, Iasi
• Since 2008
  Senior research fellow (Cercetator Stiintific, grad I) at the Institute of Ar-chaeology in Iasi
• Since 2008
  Asoc. Professor (Profesor asociat) at the University “A. I. Cuza” in Iasi
• 2003-2007
  DAAD-Lecturer (on behalf of the “German Academic Exchange Service) at the University “A. I. Cuza”, Iasi
• 2001-2003
  director of the “Goethe-Zentrum” in Iasi, employed by the Goethe Institut
• 1996-2001
  assistant to the chair of Ancient History at the University of Konstanz, Ger-many

Teaching Experience

• In Germany:
  classes (Seminare) on: Sparta, Athenian Democracy, The popular Assemblies in Athens and Rome, The Peloponnesian War, Greek Historiography, Political Trials in Athens, The Roman Republic, The Rise of Rome, The Gracchi, a.o.
• In Romania:
  Lecturing in the Master program on: “Greek Culture. History and Archaeolo-gy” (and papers in German studies)

Membership in editorial boards of peer reviewed journals:

• Arheologia Moldovei (editor in chief)
• Ephemeris Napocensis (member in ed. Board)
• Studia Antiqua (member in ed. Board)
• Annales Universitatis Apulensis (member in ed. Board)

Professional memberships

• Mommsen Gesellschaft
• European Association of Archaeologists
• Verband der Historiker Deutschlands e.V.
• Deutscher Archäologen-Verband