Urbanization and land cultivation: a two-way relationship with Romanization in North Africa, 146 BC - AD 429

Abstract

There is an extensive academic debate confirming the extent and nature of Romanization in relation to native North Africans. This refers specifically to the period during which this area was under Roman control (2nd century BC - 5th century AD). This study attempted to answer the following question: What was the exact nature of the relationship between Roman governance, urbanization, land cultivation, and Romanization? A number of secondary questions relating to pre-Roman groups and climate change, as well as the psychological concept of groupthink were also addressed. Use was made of primary and secondary sources, both archaeological and literary. Deductive and inductive reasoning was used in relation to a literary-historical analysis-based methodology. It was found that urbanization and land cultivation not only caused an increase in Romanization, but that a relationship existed between these factors leading to each causing the other’s increase. It was found that Romanization was widespread.