Visualising Glocalization

Villas, Architectural Spaces and Pavements in Hispania Baetica (2nd century AD – 4th century AD)

By (author) Rubén Montoya González

Book cover: Visualising Glocalization

Extent: 336 pages

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Subjects: Mediterranean Archaeology

Series: Archaeopress Roman Archaeology

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(December 2024)

ISBN: 9781803278957

8.07 x 11.42 inches

Price: $77.00

In stock

Glocalization can be defined as globalization refracted through the local. This book applies the glocalization framework to an archaeological dataset composed of a selection of partially and fully excavated villas, their associated architectural spaces, and pavements from Hispania Baetica between the 2nd and the 4th centuries AD.


Glocalization, which can be defined as globalization refracted through the local, has been proposed as one of the most potent and innovative theoretical frameworks in the humanities and social sciences at this moment. However, its full application to and potential for archaeological studies has yet to be realized. For instance, in a debate on interdisciplinary perspectives on the growing use of the glocalization framework across social sciences, held in Cambridge in February 2018, V. Roudometof argued that the specific issue of how the concept should be applied to archaeological research, though, is best left to the people in the field, as they are far more knowledgeable about their own field than outsiders. This book aims to contribute to this debate by applying the glocalization framework to an archaeological dataset composed of a selection of partially and fully excavated villas, their associated architectural spaces, and pavements from Hispania Baetica between the 2nd and the 4th centuries AD. This book is one of the first ones exclusively focusing on glocalization and its application to an archaeological dataset in Roman archaeology. It also constitutes a novel approach to the study of Roman villa spaces, associated architecture, and their pavements. Furthermore, it presents an analytical model which allows other scholars to assess global phenomena across scales in specific territories.

Foreword

Chapter 1. Introduction 

Research Aim and Objectives 

Hispania Baetica: Geography, Economy and Territorial Organisation 

Contextualising the Study of Villas and Mosaics in Hispania and in the Baetica province 

Data Collection, Collation, and Analytical Methods 

Structure of the Book 

Chapter 2. The Global, the Local, and the Glocal 

Introduction 

Globalization and the Roman World 

Towards Glocalization as a Framework 

Conclusion 

Chapter 3. Form and Architecture of Baetican Villa Spaces

Introduction 

Room Types across Baetican Villas 

Conclusion 

Chapter 4. Villa Pavements in Context

Introduction 

A Decorative Typology for the Study of Villa Décor 

Types of Pavements by Types of Rooms Across Baetican Villas 

Types of Pavements Across Types of Rooms in Baetican Villas 

Conclusion 

Chapter 5. Baetican Villa Pavements, Architectural Contexts and Spatial Function

Introduction 

Grouping Room Types 

Types of Pavements in ‘Predominantly Representational’ and ‘Predominantly Non-Representational’ Character Areas in Baetican Villas 

Arrangement of the Decorative Patterns of Mosaic Pavements and Possible Functions 

Subject Matter, Space and Function 

Conclusion 

Chapter 6. From Global Phenomena to Glocal Realities: the case of Baetican villas 

Introduction 

Glocalization and Baetican villas 

Glocalization and the Display of Iconographies in a Seemingly Globalised Koine 

A Hispano-Roman ‘villa model’? Baetican villas within the Iberian Peninsula 

Conclusion 

Chapter 7. Conclusion 

Villa Spaces and Pavements in Hispania Baetica 

Assessing the Frequency in the Display of Pavements across Villa Spaces 

Assessing the Relationship Pavements-Space-Function and the Existence of a Hierarchical Use of Pavements in Villas 

Investigating the Existence of Distribution Patterns Regarding the Types of Decoration and Decorative Scenes by Room Type 

Glocalization, Baetican Villas and the Roman World: Future Research 

Bibliography 

Appendix A. A Gazetteer for the Study of Villa Décor from Hispania Baetica

 

Appendix B. Villa Spaces, Architectural Features and Types of Pavements by Room Types

  • By (author) Rubén Montoya González

'Overall, this work provides fresh and insightful research not only on the debates surrounding the phenomenon of the Roman villa in Baetica, but also on theoretical approaches to the Roman world. I find this work to be a great addition to the study of Hispania Baetica, as well as a strong case-study in defence of glocalization approaches.' – Carlos Enríquez de Salamanca (2026): Bryn Mawr Classical Review