Ancient Roman Economy Focus of Phi Beta Kappa Lecture at Lawrence

APPLETON, WIS. -- University of Chicago historian and classicist Richard Saller will discuss "the grandeur that was Rome" and the economic conditions that fueled it in a Phi Beta Kappa lecture at Lawrence University.

Saller, the Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor at Chicago, presents, "Growth in the Roman Imperial Economy," Thursday, Feb. 7 at 4:30 p.m. in Lawrence's Wriston Art Center auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Using archaeological remains and underwater excavations of ancient ships as evidence of a lively trade in a variety of goods, Saller will discuss basic economic theories of growth that led to increased productivity by the Roman Empire through the centuries.

A Roman historian specializing in social, economic and cultural history, Saller has written several books, including "Personal Patronage Under the Early Roman Empire" and "The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture," which has been translated into five languages. Saller, who holds appointments at Chicago in the departments of history, classical languages and literature and new testament and early Christian literature, also assumed the duties of provost on Jan. 1 of this year.

He earned a bachelor's degree in Greek and history from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1978.

The Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Program annually provides distinguished scholars for student visits, classroom discussions and public lectures at nearly 100 colleges nationwide.