Varro the Agronomist: Political Philosophy, Satire, and Agriculture in the Late

Description: Varro the Agronomist by Grant A. Nelsestuen Argues that Varros treatise provides his contemporaries with a model for governing the Roman state, anticipates Augustus transformation of Roman dominion into a coherent territorial state, and offers an ancient theory of imperialism. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Some six years after his narrow escape from proscription in 43 bce, Marcus Terentius Varro, the "most learned" of the Romans, wrote a technical treatise on farming in the form of a satirico-philosophical dialogue. Grant A. Nelsestuen argues that far from simply being just another encyclopedic entry of a seemingly aloof antiquarian or offering an escapists retreat into rustication, Varros De Re Rustica uses the model of the farm to craft an implicitly political treatise that grapples with multifarious challenges facing the contemporary Roman world. On one level, Varros treatise presents an innovative account of the Roman farm, which rationalizes new agricultural and pastoral opportunities for contemporary elite owners of large-scale estates. But on another level, this bold agronomical vision associates the farms different spheres with distinct areas under Roman control, thereby allegorizing Romes empire on the model of a farm. Nelsestuen argues that Varros treatise thus provides his contemporaries with a model for governing the Roman state, anticipates Augustus subsequent transformation of Roman dominion into a coherent territorial state, and offers an ancient theory of imperialism. Shedding new light on the only completely extant work of a much-celebrated but ill-understood figure, Varro the Agronomist has much to offer to those interested in Latin literature-especially, Cicero and Vergil-as well as on the political dimensions of intellectual life in first-century bce Rome, ancient imperialism, and Roman political philosophy. Author Biography Grant A. Nelsestuen is Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION: From One Country House to Another CHAPTER 1 * The Form and Genre of Varronian res rusticae Philosophical Dialogue and the Form of the RR Philosophical Satire in the RR A Case Study of Parody and Irony in the RR CHAPTER 2 * Creating the Agronomical Field of res rusticae Sources and the Creation of a Roman Agronomical Tradition Definition through the Dialectical Exchange in RR 1 Farming and Farmers, Cultura and Colo Conclusion CHAPTER 3 * Agri Cultura and the Italian Farm in RR 1 Italia and the Temple of Tellus Patterns of Exemplification for Italian Agri Cultura Exceptional "Exceptions" to RR 1s Agricultural Exemplification The Agripolitical Geography of Italia The Death of Fundilius and the End of RR 1 CHAPTER 4 * The Song of Faustulus: Pastures and Provinces in RR 2 Staging the Dialogue A Cast of Shepherds A Vergilian Counterexample: Greek Shepherds in a Bucolic Italy Epos and the Technical in RR 2 CHAPTER 5 * Provincial Pastures: The Amoebean Refrain of Romulus in RR 2 Scrofa and Varro as Military Herders of Men Pairs of Paradigmatic Herdsmen: Eclogue 1 and RR 2 Animal Husbandry in Provincial Pastures Conclusion CHAPTER 6 * Tending the Villa of Rome in RR 3 The Villa-Still-Publica and the Shadows of Caesarian Dictatorship Birdcages, Villas, and the Crapshoot of Pastio Villatica Not Your Fathers Leporaria: Profit and Pleasure Aviaries and the Failure of Elite Political Behavior Bees and the Success of the Brothers Veianii Epilogue CHAPTER 7 * Varros Imperial Estate and Its Intellectual Contexts Varro, His De Re Rustica, and Rome in 37 BC Prior Roman Conceptions of Empire Greek and Roman Intellectual Antecedents Varros Conception of Imperium-as-Praedium Conclusion: Some Final Thoughts on Varro and Modern Political Theory Review "This book provides an original and compelling reading of an important and neglected work of classical Latin literature. The author is attentive to literary, philological, historical, cultural, and economic issues and produces a dazzling interpretation of Res Rusticae in its many contexts. It far surpasses previous work and establishes a model for approaching technical writings as works of literature." --Thomas Habinek, University of Southern California Review Quote "This book provides an original and compelling reading of an important and neglected work of classical Latin literature. The author is attentive to literary, philological, historical, cultural, and economic issues and produces a dazzling interpretation of Res Rusticae in its many contexts. It far surpasses previous work and establishes a model for approaching technical writings as works of literature." --Thomas Habinek, University of Southern California Details ISBN0814252214 Author Grant A. Nelsestuen Pages 332 Language English Edition 1st ISBN-10 0814252214 ISBN-13 9780814252215 Media Book Format Paperback Imprint Ohio State University Press Subtitle Political Philosophy, Satire, and Agriculture in the Late Republic Country of Publication United States Year 2016 Publication Date 2016-09-18 DEWEY 630.937 Birth 1979 Illustrations Illustrations, black and white Short Title Varro the Agronomist UK Release Date 2016-09-18 Place of Publication Columbus, OH AU Release Date 2016-09-18 NZ Release Date 2016-09-18 US Release Date 2016-09-18 Publisher Ohio State University Press Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:97402249;

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