Ways of Acculturation in Thracia and Moesia Inferior from the 1st to the 4th Century The Role of the Settlers from Asia Minor as a Cultural Medium

The Eastern Balkans lie between the Lower Danube including Dobrudja in the north, the Aegean coast of Thrace to the south, the Black Sea to the east and the limits of the Roman provinces of Thracia and Moesia Inferior to the west. The chronological frame defined here corresponds to the period from the establishment of the two Roman provinces in the Eastern Balkans – Thracia and Moesia (resp. Moesia Inferior) – in the first half and respectively the second half of the first century to the end of the fourth century.
For hundreds of years, this region served as a bridge for cultural encounters and exchanges between the East and the West. In the Roman imperial period, the influence of Asia Minor can be clearly seen in the fields of cult, architecture, and craftsmanship. The cultural and economic upsurge of these two provinces during the reign of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian led to the active involvement of craftsmen from Asia Minor in the construction of public buildings, which can be archaeologically verified. Furthermore, the impact of Anatolian culture in the Eastern Balkan region can be denoted not only by the presence of large- and small-scale sculptures, several terracotta figurines, lamps, and vessels, but in many cases also by the availability of directly imported goods from Asia Minor. This is evident particularly for the second half of the 2nd century.
The influence of the eastern provinces of the Imperium Romanum can be also proved by the great number of epigraphic evidences. An appropriate example can be found in the social status of people with various social backgrounds. Facts concerning such groups of people can be discovered in numerous grave and votive inscriptions as well as in official documents. Some cases even show that entire families were well-integrated in the craftsmanship associations and had a leading role in the governance of cities in the provinces of Moesia Inferior and Thracia. The religious life was of particular importance. On one hand, questions arise from dedicators with eastern origin, on the other hand, however, from oriental cults or cults with oriental characteristics.
Considering the notes of ancient authors, the archaeological and epigraphic evidence has to be examined in the PhD project under the aspect of acculturation. The term “acculturation” should be understood here as a result of cultural interactions, which are formed by the mutual influence of different cultural groups. I refer to such interactions which can take place in different fields as “ways of acculturation”. After a brief overview of the cultural exchanges in the Eastern Balkans from the 5th to the 1st century BC, I will discuss the Ionic influence in the architecture during the urbanisation process in Thracia and Moesia Inferior that took place in the 2nd century AD. The following key theme is the cult and rituals in the both provinces. An important issue arises here from the establishment of the so-called “oriental religions” and their influence on the indigenous religious world. However, an increasing tendency to preserve or revitalise the regional identity-shaping traditions can be recognised. Furthermore, particular attention should be paid to the local and imported tendencies in the craftsmanship in the observed area. With regard to the newcomers from Asia Minor, their social environment will be observed in an additional chapter with a focus on the origin of the newcomers and the question, to which extent they were acculturated or whether they maintained the characteristics of their former social environment. The thesis shall conclude with a diachronic analysis of the characteristics of acculturation in Thracia and Moesia Inferior from the early 1st century AD to the end of the 4th century AD. The results of the examination should determine to what extent the settlers from Asia Minor have played an active role in the cultural, social, and economic development of the region.

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