The Uses of Roman Heritage in Brazil

Abstract

Over the past two decades Public Archaeology has helped shape new approaches to the past. The idea that archaeology helps to foster a sense of modern identity and different types of nationalisms has challenged archaeologists to rethink their epistemological approaches and enabled them to consider the political and social aspects of their practices. In this context, the aim of this paper is to examine the practical value of the Roman past in shaping Brazilian identities. The Roman world has long been interpreted in ways that have shaped contemporary social practices and power relations. In Brazil, the Roman past is used not only in the academy, but also in museums such as MAE/USP (the São Paulo University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology) and the Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro National Museum). Considering heritage-inspired identity and the relationship between feelings of heritage identity and modern behavior, we explore how the Roman world has been used to shape Brazilian's place in western culture, and how a more critical approach to the Roman past can help us to improve educational programs. We argue that by constructing new ways of understanding the Roman past, it is possible to awaken empathy in young people towards those with different backgrounds and lifeways, and demonstrate that the relationship between the past and the present is not simply one of continuity.