Neale Lecture 2023: 'Decolonising Ancient Empire', Prof David Mattingly
This year's UCL History Neale Lecture will feature Prof David Mattingly, FBA, University of Leicester. It is the first time an ancient historian has delivered the lecture. Prof Mattingly will speak on 'Decolonising ancient empire: Roman imperialism, Britain and Africa' and a reception will follow.
Neale Lecture 2023: 'Decolonising Ancient Empire', Prof David Mattingly
23 Nov 2023, 18:30 – 21:00
Professor Mattingly will share his approaches to writing a history of Britain in the Roman Empire (Imperial Possession), completed almost 20 years ago, compared with his current work on Roman Africa in light of recent developments of the anti-woke culture wars.
We will examine the debate that Prof Mattingly’s work on Roman Imperialism in Britain provoked and how he has taken arguments further concerning Northern Africa. Finally, he will point out some differences in how the ‘Roman’ story has been written hitherto for Britain and Africa and offer some broader reflections on the decolonising agenda of his work and the subject more generally and why it is needed.
Lecture in the Gustave Tuck: 18:30-19:30
Reception in the Haldane: 19:30-21:00
David John Mattingly, FBA is an archaeologist and historian of the Roman world. He is currently Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Leicester.