The Materiality of Diplomacy in the Hellenistic-Roman Mediterranean

Gifts, Bribes, Offerings

Sánchez Moreno, Eduardo
García Riaza, Enrique

Studies the diplomatic and cultural implications of the exchange of symbolic objects in the ancient world
Examines the diplomatic and cultural implications of the exchange of symbolic objects in the ancient world
Regarding the Eastern Mediterranean, deals with cases from the Biblical world, classical Greek, Hellenistic states and Roman interaction
Concerning the Western Mediterranean, studies the Roman Republic's contact with Numidia, Gaul and the Iberian Peninsula
Addresses a number of cross-cutting themes, such as the relationship between gifts, loot and bribery, the anxiety in receiving or refusing presents, or the spaces of diplomatic interaction
This volume is a survey of one of the most interesting practices of ancient diplomacy: the gift or exchange of symbolic objects understood as diplomatic presents. This custom may be as old as mankind, but it can certainly be traced back to the emergence of the first written societies. After assessing this background, the contributions of the volume focus on a transcendental historical epoch: the Hellenistic period (from the end of the 4th century BC to the end of the 1st century BC), which partially overlaps with the expansion of the Roman Republic in the Mediterranean. The book brings together international specialists who approach the subject from different chronological, geographical and thematic perspectives. A stimulating proposal that opens up new insights into the study of Antiquity and the History of Diplomacy. It provides an innovative approach to the study of ancient diplomacy, based on cultural conditioning factors and subjective perception of the gift and illuminates current issues, such as the role of diplomacy and dialogue between cultures as a means of conflict resolution.