Introducción: imitación y colonialismo en el mundo antiguo

Text of introduction to the minutes of the session entitled "Imitation and colonialism in the ancient world", held at the Complutense University of Madrid during the VII Meeting of Young Investigators of Ancient History. The aim of this session was to discuss various issues related to the complex relationship between 'copy' and 'model' in colonial contexts of the ancient world. How should examples of re-appropriation of exogenous features in colonial contexts be interpreted? Why are certain traits selected and others not? Was there a conscious desire on the part of local groups to imitate the culture of the colonizer? What were the consequences of the mimesis process for the construction of the identity of these communities? Introductory notes to the proceedings of the session "Imitation and colonialism in the ancient world" held at the Complutense University of Madrid during the VII Meeting of Young Investigators of Ancient History. The aim of the session was to explore different questions connected with the complex interplay between 'copy' and 'model' in colonial contexts of the ancient world. How should we interpret examples of appropriation of foreign traits in colonial contexts? Why were some traits chosen and others dismissed? Was there a conscious will to imitate the colonizer's culture by local populations? What were the consequences of mimesis processes for the construction of identity in those communities?

Duke Scholars

Author Alicia Jiménez Classical Studies