Alimentation et société dans la Rome classique : bilan historiographique (IIe siècle av. J.-C. – IIe siècle apr. J.-C.)

Abstract

Food and society in classical Rome : historiographic stock (2nd century B.c.-2nd century A.D.). Born in the seventies’ second half, the social history of food get its final face in the nineties’ synthesis (M. Corbier, P. Garnsey). Its field includes : the diet, the social aspect of supply (food crisies and riots) ; the directions for preparation (gastronomy); the sociabilities and commensalities ; the connection with the social and sexual status; the standards and ideological frameworks. The connection with the social hierarchy has represented a central theme for a long time but that hierarchy is actually seen as a “tuilage” and not a rift. The actual debates’ stake on the food standard lead to this question: we must insist on the prohibitions or the moral codes’ plurality?