This chapter examines the transformation of Roman construction practices within the framework of imperial hegemony, exploring the intersection of globalization and imperialism. Traditional views on Romanization and Hellenization have evolved, with recent scholarship shifting towards globalization and glocalization to account for cultural interactions in the Roman world. While globalization offers a nuanced view of increased connectivity and its effects on cultural and material practices, it often overlooks the power dynamics inherent in imperialism. This chapter introduces “imperialization” as a concept that bridges the gap between globalization’s focus on connectivity and imperialism’s attention to power structures.
By focusing on key innovations in Roman building technology—such as opus caementicium, opus reticulatum, brick-faced concrete and the concrete dome—the chapter highlights how these developments were deeply rooted in the wealth and power inequalities fostered by Roman imperialism. Moreover, the spread of these technologies illustrates the glocal nature of imperialization, where local practices and materials shaped the adoption and adaptation of imperial innovations. Ultimately, this chapter offers a more precise analytical framework for understanding the impact of Roman imperial hegemony on technological practices, emphasizing both the imperial and local dimensions of change.
Bibliographical details
Type
Chapter in an edited volume, 2025. Publication of a February 2023 conference on Glocalization in the Roman World at the Royal Dutch Institute in Rome, where I gave an invited talk.
Reference
Flohr, M. (2025). ‘Glocalizing the Pantheon. Empire and innovation in Roman construction technology’, in R. Montoya González and E. Dodd (eds), Between Global and Local. Glocal Refractions in Roman Material Culture and Society. Rome: Quasar, 65–85. [publisher’s website]
Open Access
This chapter will be published in Open Access later in 2025.
Miko Flohr, 05/09/2025