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dc.contributor.authorMudd, Shaun Anthony
dc.date.accessioned2015-09-01T10:53:39Z
dc.date.issued2015-04-09
dc.description.abstractThis thesis explores ancient ideas regarding the constructive properties of intoxicating drinks, as presented in Greco-Roman sources from the first to third centuries AD. In doing so, it responds to Mary Douglas’ Constructive Drinking (1987), which emphasised that, contrary to anthropological findings, many societies’ authorities tend to focus upon, and overemphasise, the destructive aspects of alcohol consumption. This pattern is particularly prevalent in modern Western scholarship. The same trend can be detected within both Greco-Roman society and classical scholarship. Although many Greeks and Romans undoubtedly consumed quantities of wine, on a regular basis, in a manner which was widely considered ‘moderate’, the literary evidence from this period tends to focus most heavily upon excessive and/or destructive drinking. Similarly, much of the modern scholarship which addresses drinking in the Roman Empire focuses upon drunkenness and the destructive aspects of drinking. Yet it is clear that Greco-Roman society considered wine consumption to be significantly beneficial, in a wide variety of ways, provided that moderation was employed. The destructive consequences of drinking were almost exclusively associated with excessive and inappropriate consumption. In reaction to this bias in the sources and scholarship, this thesis undertakes a re-reading of the ancient evidence through the ‘Constructive Drinking’ lens. It identifies and explores the ways in which the Greeks and Romans of this period considered drinking to be important, useful, or otherwise ‘constructive’ to the individual and society. Where possible, this thesis attempts to identify how important and widespread such beliefs were. This thesis has two main areas of focus. First, the ways in which intoxicating drink was considered to be constructive for an individual’s health and wellbeing. Second, the ways in which intoxicating drink was considered to be of social benefit to both individuals and groups. This thesis accordingly provides a fresh perspective on drinking in antiquity, and illustrates the methodological significance of the Constructive Drinking lens for future research.en_GB
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trusten_GB
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10871/18157
dc.language.isoenen_GB
dc.publisherUniversity of Exeteren_GB
dc.rights.embargoreasonA standard 18 month embargo to facilitate publication of this research.en_GB
dc.subjectRomeen_GB
dc.subjectRoman Empireen_GB
dc.subjectDrinkingen_GB
dc.subjectAlcoholen_GB
dc.subjectIntoxicating Drinken_GB
dc.subjectGreeceen_GB
dc.subjectGreco-Romanen_GB
dc.subjectAncient Historyen_GB
dc.subjectMary Douglasen_GB
dc.subjectConstructive Drinkingen_GB
dc.subjectAnthropologyen_GB
dc.subjectSymposiumen_GB
dc.subjectConviviumen_GB
dc.subjectWineen_GB
dc.titleConstructive Drinking in the Roman Empire: The First to Third Centuries ADen_GB
dc.typeThesis or dissertationen_GB
dc.contributor.advisorWilkins, John
dc.contributor.advisorPitts, Martin
dc.publisher.departmentClassics and Ancient Historyen_GB
dc.type.degreetitlePhD in Classicsen_GB
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen_GB
dc.type.qualificationnamePhDen_GB


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