Dynamiques territoriales et subdivisions des cités romaines. A propos des cités d'Avignon et Arles (Gaule Narbonnaise)

Bibliographic Data

ID19686244
AuthorsPhilippe Leveau (corresponding author)
Year2000
Volume33
Issue1
Pages39-46
Publication date2000-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueRevue archéologique de Narbonnaise (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0557-7705 • E-ISSN: 2117-5683
PublisherPERSEE Program (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3406/ran.2000.1540
OpenAlexW2093904981
LanguageFR
Citations received3
References cited6

This article considers the question of the territories of the Roman cities of Arles (Arelate) and Avignon (Avennio) in the context of the changes brought about by the Roman penetration into south Gaul. Following recent work in geography on the different meanings of the term "territory", the author explains the importance of the difference between a catchment territory, defined by economic relations, and a political territory, defined by administrative dependence on a centre. Questions about territory and legal status must be asked independently of one another. The author follows A. Chastagnol in his view that Caesar granted autonomy to Marseille's former dependencies. It follows that Aries' territory, as it was known in the second century C.E., was formed by the aggregation, under the Imperial power, of politically heterogeneous territorial units. He emphasizes the importance of Avignon, which is the least known among the Roman towns of Rhone valley, and discusses the historical importance of the idea that the Rhone represented a natural boundary. In the geographical and political context of Gallia Narbonensis, there is no reason to be surprised that Glanum was an autonomous city possessing its own territory. Its coalescence with Arles or Avignon was the consequence of a territorial organization of the province in a later period. After its administrative assignment to one of these two chief towns, Glanum still had a territory attached to it

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Autonomy · Geography · Humanities · Political science · Politics · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · History · Law

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