Title Excavating modernity : the Roman past in fascist Italy / Joshua Arthurs

Published Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 2012

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Description 1 online resource (xiii, 216 pages) : illustrations Contents The Third Rome and its discontents, 1848-1922 -- Science and faith : the Istituto di studi romani, 1922-1929 -- History and hygiene in Mussolini's Rome, 1925-1938 -- The totalitarian museum : the Mostra augustea della romanità, 1937-1938 -- Empire, race, and the decline of romanità, 1936-1945 Summary The cultural and material legacies of the Roman Republic and Empire in evidence throughout Rome have made it the "Eternal City." Too often, however, this patrimony has caused Rome to be seen as static and antique, insulated from the transformations of the modern world. In Excavating Modernity, Joshua Arthurs dramatically revises this perception, arguing that as both place and idea, Rome was strongly shaped by a radical vision of modernity imposed by Mussolini's regime between the two world wars. Italian Fascism's appropriation of the Roman past-the idea of Rome, or romanità- encapsulated the Fascist virtues of discipline, hierarchy, and order; the Fascist "new man" was modeled on the Roman legionary, the epitome of the virile citizen-soldier. This vision of modernity also transcended Italy's borders, with the Roman Empire providing a foundation for Fascism's own vision of Mediterranean domination and a European New Order. At the same time, romanità also served as a vocabulary of anxiety about modernity. Fears of population decline, racial degeneration and revolution were mapped onto the barbarian invasions and the fall of Rome. Offering a critical assessment of romanità and its effects, Arthurs explores the ways in which academics, officials, and ideologues approached Rome not as a site of distant glories but as a blueprint for contemporary life, a source of dynamic values to shape the present and future Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes In English Print version record Subject Archaeology and state -- Italy -- History -- 20th century Fascism and culture -- Italy -- History -- 20th century Museum exhibits -- Political aspects -- Italy -- History -- 20th century HISTORY -- Ancient -- General. SOCIAL SCIENCE -- Archaeology. Archaeology and state Civilization -- Roman influences Fascism and culture Historiography Museum exhibits -- Political aspects Faschismus Rezeption Arkeologi -- historia. Arkeologi -- politiska aspekter -- historia. Fascism. Romerska influenser -- politiska aspekter. SUBJECT Italy -- Civilization -- Roman influences. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85068905 Italy -- Historiography -- 20th century Subject Italy Italien Römisches Reich Genre/Form Electronic books History Form Electronic book ISBN 0801468841 9780801468841

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