AbstractsHistory

This thesis looks at changes in landholding patterns in the age of Sulla. While most studies on landholding patterns focus on the second century B.C., the author argues that the first century B.C. is deserving of more scholarly attention since many big changes occur in this period. The author discusses Sulla’s colonization programme and the proscriptions in order to determine the effect of these measures on landholding patterns in Italy. Specifically, this thesis seeks to help illuminate the reasons behind the veritable explosion of villa-buildings after the age of Sulla. This study offers up a reassessment of the colonization programme and argues that the programme was conducted on a much smaller scale than is often thought. The overall impact of the programme is also far less significant than often assumed. It is argued that the proscriptions had a far larger impact on landholding patterns. The author argues that it was the proscriptions, and not the colonization programme, that is likely to have led to an increase in villa-buildings.