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History glossary

Romanisation

the spread or adoption of Roman law, language, towns, customs, and material culture.

Category
Cultural process
Region
Roman Empire

What it means

Romanisation describes how people in Roman-controlled regions adopted, adapted, or resisted Roman culture and institutions. It could include Latin, citizenship, roads, villas, temples, baths, law, urban planning, and military service, but it varied greatly by region.

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