Matthew Crum

My dissertation, titled “Unbecoming Romans,” is an examination of Romanness as an ethnic identity at the geographic edges of the Roman state – otherwise known as Romanía. It consists of a series of case studies from the 7^th to 11^th that investigate the loss, and perception of loss, of Roman identity among those living in areas that once were part of the Roman state. It primarily explores the extent to which these populations self-identified as Romans, whether this identity was accepted by other Romans, and how the perceptions of the literary sources might change based upon their specific context.

My primary research is focused on the Medieval (or Eastern) Roman state, especially during the period of the Macedonian Dynasty (867 to 1056). I am also undertaking research on the literary genre of Hagiography, the letter collection of Aeneas of Gaza, the archaeology of Medieval Greece, and the ancient Greek historian Herodotus.  

• B.A. in History, Ohio State University 2015