Professor, Greek and Roman History, and Latin
BA, MA (Queen’s), PhD (McMaster)
Phone: 905 688 5550 x3796
Fax: 905 984 4859
Email: mjcarter@brocku.ca
Fall 2023 Teaching
CLAS 3P08: History of the Hellenistic World,
LATI 1F00: Language (Introductory)
Winter 2024 Teaching
CLAS/HIST 2P97: History of the Early Roman Empire
LATI 1F00
My primary research interest relates to the social and cultural significance of gladiatorial contests and similar (Roman) spectacles in the Greek, eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. I am concerned especially with the effect that the adoption and adaptation of such thoroughly Roman spectacles in the Greek world had on Greek society and identity. Related to this, I am interested in the logistics involved with the production of these spectacles, such as financing and organization, the multi-sensorial nature of the arena-games, and in associated entertainments spectacles, such as animal shows, martyrdoms, and ancient athletics. I am also interested in Roman history more broadly, Romanization, Topography of Rome, Greek and Latin language, epigraphy, and historiography.
2014 recipient of the Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity
2013 recipient of the Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Teaching
2020. “Combat Sports in the Ancient World.” In Linda Fibiger, Garrett G. Fagan, and Mark Hudson (eds.) The Cambridge World History of Violence. Volume 1 – The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds. Overall series editors: Philip Dwyer and Joy Damousi. 493-511.
2018. “Armorum Studium: Gladiatorial Training for Youth.” In P. Ripat and S. Bell (eds.) Childhood and Competition: Festschrift for Mark Golden. Institute of Classical Studies 61. University of London. 119-131.
2015. “Bloodbath: Artemidorus, Apotomos Combat and Ps.-Quintilian’s The Gladiator.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 193: 39-52.
2015. “Spectacle in Rome, Italy, and the Provinces” (with J. Edmondson). In J. Edmondson and C. Bruun (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy (Oxford) 535-556.
2014. “Landscaping the Roman Arena.” Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes 35 (2015). (Published online 17 July 2014: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14601176.2014.940176)
2014. “Romanization through Spectacle in the Greek East.” In D.G. Kyle and P. Christesen (eds.) Companion on Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity (Wiley-Blackwell) 619-632.
2013. “Entertainment in the Roman World.” In M. Gibbs, M. Nikolic, and P. Ripat (edd.) Themes in Roman Society (Oxford) 265-286 (Second Edition:2020.)
2013. “Persuade the People: Violence and Roman Spectacles in the Greek East.” In S. Ralph (ed.) The Archaeology of Violence (Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology, Buffalo) 158-168.
2011. “Blown Call? Diodorus and the Treacherous Summa Rudis.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 177: 63-69.
2010. “Gladiators and Monomachoi: Greek Attitudes to a Roman Cultural Performance.” In Z. Papakonstantinou (ed.) Sport in the Cultures of the Ancient World (Routledge) 150-174.
