Black Pepper Consumption and the Middling in Roman Society: Affordability, Availability and Status

Cobb, Matthew (2022) Black Pepper Consumption and the Middling in Roman Society: Affordability, Availability and Status. In: Le poivre, fragments d'histoire globale : Circulations et consommations, de l'Antiquité à l'époque modern. Hermann, Paris, pp. 71-92. ISBN 9791037016744

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Abstract

In the past few decades the notion that Indian Ocean imports largely consisted of luxuries for small groups of elites within the Roman Empire has been challenged. In particular, spices and aromatics, like black pepper and incense, have been singled out as examples of widely consumed commodities that were integral to many aspects of social life. By and large, written evidence and archaeobotanical finds of peppercorns confirm this products’ wide availability and its comparative affordability. Black pepper was clearly not restricted to the elite. This then raises the question, did black pepper lose its status as a marker of distinction? In attempting to address this question, it is important to acknowledge the difficulties faced in defining the status of a commodity. Fixed labels can often be problematic since goods only acquire meaning in the social contexts in which they are used, and the subjective and multifaceted ways in which they might be interpreted. Nevertheless, perceptions can be commonly held, and collectively groups can invest a good with meaning (albeit this is fluid and may shift over time). With these caveats in mind, it is argued here that in certain contexts black pepper could be used in acts of conspicuous consumption. Its Indian origin continued to imbue it with a sense of the exotic, and its price (during the Principate and Dominate), while affordable for many, was sufficiently high to make it not regularly purchased by those in the lowest spectrums of society. These factors made it the ideal commodity for aspirant individuals of “middling” status to distinguish themselves. Brief consideration will also be given to the possible conceptual parallels that may be drawn with the consumption of items like tea, coffee and sugar in Early Modern England. The social composition and historical context of Early Modern England and Imperial Rome were, of course, substantially different. Therefore, any comparison drawn must be done with great care. Nonetheless, the manner in which items like tea, coffee and sugar permeated English society and influenced the construction/perception of social identity, as well as living standards, may prove useful in attempting to comprehend the potential impact that the fairly widespread consumption of black pepper had on Roman society.

Item Type:	Book Section
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D051 Ancient History
Divisions:	Institutes and Academies > Institute of Education and Humanities > Academic Discipline: Humanities and Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Matthew Cobb
Date Deposited:	05 Jul 2023 11:11
Last Modified:	05 Jul 2023 11:11
URI:	https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/2461

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