Fire and Sword. The archaeology of Caesar’s Gallic War (original) (raw)

The paper explores the archaeology of Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul (58-51 BC), emphasizing the dramatic impact on Gallic societies, particularly in the northern periphery where archaeological evidence has been sparse. It challenges traditional narratives of Romanization as a purely civilizing force, revealing the violence and destruction associated with imperialist tactics, including genocide and cultural annihilation. Utilizing recent archaeological and palaeoenvironmental data, the study offers a nuanced understanding of the conquest's consequences, highlighting both the immediate brutality and the long-term societal changes resulting from Roman expansion.