Romans and Blacks (Routledge Revivals)

<p>Roman literature seems to provide plenty of instances of contempt towards foreign or black individuals but it is an untenable assumption that such distaste amounts to a racist attitude particularly considering how elusive the definitions of ‘race’ and ‘racism’ are. </p><p>Making extensive use of developments in sociological theory and psychology <i>Romans and Blacks</i> first published in 1989 presents an innovative and illuminating picture of black-white relations in Roman society. It is argued that ‘race’ as a somatic identification that entails permanent and genetically transmitted social disabilities was absent and that the main deference-entitling distinctions in the Roman world were socio-cultural rather than somatic. Therefore Professor Thompson concludes references to black skins and negroid features should be interpreted in aesthetic terms. </p><p>This wide-ranging study brings welcome clarity to the discussion of blacks in the Roman world and is valuable for all students of race relations as well as classicists and historians. </p>