10-07-2009, 04:44 AM
It will be interesting to read the original article, but its just another piece of evidence in the debate. Schiedel is a leading "low count" (about 5 million Italians under Augustus) advocate so he's looking for evidence to support his theory.
Coin hoards do seem like a rather indirect sort of evidence- you might fail to retrieve one for several reasons other than death. For example, someone who had his land confiscated might not be able to retrieve his buried silver. But that's how the debate goes, because there isn't much direct evidence left for whether there were 5 or 15 million Italians in Augustus' day.
The article has a good summary of the debate.
Coin hoards do seem like a rather indirect sort of evidence- you might fail to retrieve one for several reasons other than death. For example, someone who had his land confiscated might not be able to retrieve his buried silver. But that's how the debate goes, because there isn't much direct evidence left for whether there were 5 or 15 million Italians in Augustus' day.
The article has a good summary of the debate.
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
