One of the aims of this project is to create a network of specialists that work on the topic at hand to facilitate exchange of knowledge and expertise. Interaction is enabled in the form of regularly organised workshops and an expert blog function, which will be added to this platform in the near future. The programmes of past workshops, as well as future events, will also be published here as they are held.
Upcoming
Masterclass and public lecture by Nicholas Purcell (University of Oxford), Groningen, 14 May 2025
Nicholas Purcell will discuss ancient colonialism with young scholars from the archaeology and history departments of University of Groningen. The event, co-hosted by the Crasis Research School, will be concluded with a public lecture by Purcell.
16th Celtic Classics Conference - Rethinking Colonisation in Ancient Italy and the Western Mediterranean (500-250 BCE), Coimbra, 15-18 July 2025
This panel re-examines ancient Italian colonisation through a comparative lens, moving beyond traditional Romanocentric, state-driven narratives. By adopting a multi-polar perspective, the panel situates Roman colonisation within the broader context of Western Mediterranean colonising practices, including those of the Etruscans, Sabines, Samnites, Gauls, Carthaginians, Massalians, and Syracusans. The aim is to highlight the diverse and evolving forms of colonisation practised by these societies, challenging the view of Roman exceptionalism. The panel will also explore alternative forms of group mobility and settlement, such as secessions by lower classes, and movements such as the ver sacrum, broadening the scope beyond elite-driven, imperial models. By comparing Roman practices with those of other colonising polities in the region, the panel will aim to reveal the interconnected and shifting nature of ancient colonisation. So, is it accurate, for instance, to claim that early Roman colonisation followed Etruscan and Italic patterns (Torelli 1999), while later developments aligned with broader Mediterranean imperial trends in colonisation strategies and settlement planning? For more information see here.
Participants: Marion Bolder Boos, Massimiliano di Fazio, Tesse Stek, Guy Bradley, Jeremia Pelgrom, Nic Terrenato, Maarten Schmaal, Martin Mauersberg, Franco de Angelis, Marleen Termeer, Ed Bispham, Ludovico Runco, Benjamin Luley, Davide Morelli, Saskia Rooselaar, Bridget Louise McClean, Kieran Blewitt, Gabriele Cifani, Federico Corradi, David Eibeck, Luis Silva Reneses, Emiliano Panciera, Elena Isayev, Aleksandr Koptev, Tommasina Matrone, Olivier Alfonsi.
Past Events
Conferences
ESSHC Conference Panel - Roman Colonization as a Structure, Leiden, 26–29 March 2025
Building on insights from settler colonialism studies, this panel explores Roman colonialism as a structural process that extends beyond the initial phase of settlement. The panel argues that understanding colonial rule requires examining how colonies evolve over time. A key takeaway from settler colonialism theory—that different logics operate within colonial projects—shapes this analysis. While imperial powers often establish colonies for control or resource extraction, these settlements can swiftly develop into centers for diverse settlers, whose motivations may diverge from imperial objectives but align with settler colonial goals of land acquisition. This perspective challenges traditional views of colonial function, highlighting how early settlement infrastructure can act as a foundation for subsequent waves of migration and imperial expansion, each with its own agendas. By conceptualizing early colonial settlements as strategic hubs in information networks and as gateways to new territories, the panel broadens the discussion on Roman colonialism. For more information see here.
Participants: Anita Casarotto, Jitse Daniels, Andrew Dufton, Lisa Goetz, Bradley Jordan, Dies van der Linde, Jeremia Pelgrom, and Tesse Stek
Mini-Symposium: Changing Strategies in Ancient Colonization, Groningen, 26 April 2024
This mini-symposium focused on discussions inspired by Nicola Terrenato’s comparative study of ancient colonization in the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Floris van den Eijnde (Utrecht University) and Brian Garnand (NINO, Leiden) presented papers that offered reflections on this study through the lens of their own expertise, with a focus on Athenian and Carthaginian colonization, respectively.
Anchoring Ancient Colonisation - Groningen, 1-2 December 2022
The Anchoring Ancient Colonization workshop examined ancient colonization from a wide-ranging, long-term Mediterranean perspective while promoting collaboration among Dutch and international scholars. Twenty-five experts presented research through the framework of anchoring innovation, with 30 additional participants joining the discussions. Key topics included the socio-economic and territorial strategies of both colonizers and indigenous communities. The workshop underscored the value of interdisciplinary approaches, generating new insights and academic connections. It was made possible by the support of Crasis, Oikos-Anchoring Innovation, and the Royal Netherlands Institute Rome (KNIR).
Participants: Eelco Glas, Tymon de Haas, Anita Cassarotto, Tesse Stek, Jan Paul Crielaard, Emily Hurt, Elon Heymans, Evan Jewell, Daniel J. Martín-Arroyo Sánchez, Marion Bolder-Boos, Xenia Charalambidou, Anouk Vermeulen, Manual A. González, Brian Garnand, Lou Godefroy, Saskia Roselaar, Dies van der Linde, Michele Valandro, Martina C. Parini, Taariq A. Sheik, Marleen Termeer, and Jeremia Pelgrom.
Comparative Colonisation conference - Athens & Online, 16-17 December 2021
This international workshop examined the colonial strategies of various imperial powers that ruled the Mediterranean during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Discussions explored similarities and differences in colonial practices and ideologies, as well as their effects on local populations. Key questions included: Can general patterns in ancient colonization be identified? What explains the differences? How have variations in source material and historiographic traditions shaped our understanding of these strategies? Students wrote blogs on the presented papers, which can be accessed on this website via the navigation bar or by clicking here. The conference was made possible by the support of the NWIB fellowship program, a RUG start-up grant and the Netherlands Institute in Athens (NIA).
Participants: Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Gianluca Tagliamonte, Wouter Henkelman, Ed Bispham, Peter van Dommelen, Thomas J. Figueira, Nathan L. Pilkington, Jeremia Pelgrom, Irad Malkin, Manuela Mari, Manolis Pagkalos, Anita Casarotto, Tesse Stek, Peter Attema, José Luis López Castro and Nicola Terrenato.
Young Scholar Events
Hero-Worship in Ancient Mediterranean Colonialism, Rome, 10-20 March 2025
Colonial empires have long used myths to legitimize their power, offering historical and divine justification for the social order. Ancient powers were no exception, as seen in Virgil’s Aeneid. Myths also reinforced key military values such as patriotism, duty, and self-sacrifice. The course examines how mythical and semi-historical heroes supported colonial expansion. Hero cults in archaic colonization, with their founding figures and enigmatic tombs, played a central role in new settlements. These practices evolved during the Classical and Early Hellenistic periods, particularly in the Roman Republic, where hero-linked monuments helped sustain colonial ideals. The course is organized by the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome, University of Groningen and OIKOS. For more information see here.
Masterclass with Tamara Dijkstra (University of Groningen), Groningen, 19 December 2024
This event featured a work-in-progress meeting where several PhD candidates researching the impact of Roman territorial colonization in the provinces received feedback from Tamara Dijkstra and other senior scholars with expertise in Ancient Colonialism.
Excursion and Lecture with Ruurd Halbertsma (RMO), Leiden, 28 May 2024
This event featured a visit to the RMO Museum’s temporary exhibition on Paestum, complemented by a lecture from curator Ruurd Halbertsma, who explored the fascinating history and archaeology of the Greek and later Roman colony.
Masterclass and Lecture by Greg Woolf (University of California), Groningen, 28 February 2024
Greg Woolf offered feedback to young scholars on projects related to ancient colonialism and other relevant topics. The event, co-hosted by the Crasis Research School, concluded with a public lecture by Woolf.
Excursion to Roman Nijmegen & Masterclass with Rolf Strootman (University of Utrecht), Nijmegen, 16 June 2023
PhD and (Re)MA candidates working on ancient colonization presented their research and received guidance from Rolf Strootman and other senior experts. The event began with an excursion to the Valkhof Museum's temporary exhibition showcasing recent Roman-period discoveries in Nijmegen and surroundings. The day concluded with Strootman's keynote lecture, Colonization and Migration in Hellenistic Syria: The Role of Religion.
Masterclass with Michel Tarpin (University of Grenoble), Groningen, 15 November 2022
This event featured a masterclass where several PhD candidates researching the impact of Roman territorial colonization in the provinces received feedback from Michel Tarpin and other senior scholars with expertise in Ancient Colonialism.