Prof. Dr. Enrique García Riaza
April 2022 - June 2022
Research Project: Insularity vs. isolation: rethinking the Roman cities of the Balearic Islands during the Roman Empire and Late Antiquity
During the Roman Empire, the Balearic Islands were both a place of exile and the seat of flourishing urban centres, whose elites were interconnected with the main cities of Mediterranean Hispania. This duality presides over the history of the islands, and leads us to think that “insularity” did not necessarily imply “isolation”. The Balearic archipelago is therefore an exceptional laboratory for the analysis of the complexity of human interaction. The privileged geographical location of the islands as a stopover point on trade routes determined the historical evolution of ancient settlements. At the same time, the geographical conditioning of insularity affected, due to the confined nature of the territory, the rhythms and characteristics of the implantation of population groups and had an impact on their strategies for making the most of economic resources. In this context, we will carry out a "longue durée" analysis, applied to the study of the Roman cities of the Balearic archipelago from the perspective of Mediterranean connectivity. The aim of our project is to try to determine to what extent insularity conditioned the historical evolution of the cities of the archipelago, and whether differential hallmarks can be identified in relation to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.
Profile
Prof. Dr. Enrique García Riaza is Full Professor in Ancient History at the Department of Historical Sciences and Theory of the Arts, University of the Balearic Islands (Spain). He completed the Degree studies in History (speciality of Ancient History) at the University of Salamanca (1991), as well as the 'Grado de Salamanca' on Roman History (1992). He defended his doctoral thesis in 1997 (University of the Balearic Islands). His main research interests are Diplomacy and Law of War during the Roman expansion, as well as the Ancient History of the Balearic Islands. Principal Investigator of the Research Group Civitas (University of the Balearic Islands); co-founder and associated member of the Research Group Occidens (Autonomous University of Madrid). He has taken part in several national and international scientific programs, being a Principal Researcher in four consecutive R + D + i projects (Spanish State Research Agency, Government of Spain). He is currently in charge of PGC2018-096415-B-C22, coord. with C21 “The Diplomatic expression in the central and eastern Mediterranean under Roman expansion: the gift in its political and institutional context (3rd-1st centuries BC)”, in collaboration with international researchers. He is also working as co-IP on two ongoing archaeological projects regarding the evolution of the Balearic Islands during Antiquity, with focus on Mediterranean connectivity: the Punic-Ebusitan base on the islet of Na Guardis and the late Roman wreck of Ses Fontanelles (both in Mallorca).
CV
Selected Publications
García Riaza, Enrique (2021), "Secreta spes. Roma y la generación de expectativas en las élites foráneas: algunos casos de estudio en torno al regalo diplomático", in: Maria Dolores Dopico Caínzos / Manuel Villanueva Acuña, eds., Aut oppressi serviunt… La intervención de Roma en las comunidades indígenas (PHILTÁTE. Studia et acta antiquae Callaeciae 5), Lugo: Publicacións, 95-115.
García Riaza, Enrique (2020), "Un nuevo fragmento de epigrafía latina en bronce procedente de Mallorca", Gerión 38, 285-294.
García Riaza, Enrique (2014), "Und ob die Steine sprechen: Archäologie und Geschichte der römischen Städte Mallorcas", in: Sabine Panzram, ed., Städte in Spanien. Moderne Urbanität seit 2000 Jahren, Mainz: Nünnerich-Asmus Verlag & Media, 17-28.
García Riaza, Enrique / Sánchez León, Maria Luisa (2004), "La municipalització de les Balears (ss. II aC-II dC)", in: Margarita Orfila Pons / Míguel Àngel Cau Ontiveros, eds., Les ciutats romanes del Llevant peninsular i les Illes Balears, Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona, 117-135.
García Riaza, Enrique / Sánchez León, Maria Luisa (2000), Roma y la municipalización de las Baleares, Palma: Edicions UIB.
