Prof. Greg Woolf
Research Interests
The cultural, social, religious and economic history of the Roman world, broadly understood. Much of my work involves applying ideas from the social sciences to the material, documentary and literary evidence from antiquity. Currently most of my work is on religious history, but I maintain interests in European prehistory, in ancient literacy, in ethnographic writing and in the comparative history of imperialism.
Current research projects
My main current project is a study of the origins of religious pluralism in the Roman empire. I am also engaged in editing various collections, some arising from the recent Leverhulme sponsored project Science and Empire in the Roman World co-directed with Jason König. Future projects include a short book on diasporas and colonization in classical antiquity.
Publications
Authority and Expertise in the Roman World
Koenig, J. P. (ed.)
,
Woolf, G. (ed.)
&
Oikonomopoulou, K. (ed.)
2014
Unknown Publisher
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Diasporas and Colonization in Classical Antiquity
Woolf, G. D.
2014
Cambridge University Press
. (Key Themes in Ancient History).
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Encyclopaedia of Global Human Migration
Ness, I. (ed.) &
Woolf, G. D. (ed.)
2013
Wiley-Blackwell
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Encyclopaedism from Antiquity to the Renaissance
Woolf, G. D. (ed.)
&
Koenig, J. P. (ed.)
2013
Cambridge University Press
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Ancient Libraries
Koenig, J. P. (ed.)
, Oikonomopoulou, K. (ed.) &
Woolf, G. D. (ed.)
2013
Cambridge University Press
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Rome: An Empire's Story
Woolf, G. D.
2012
New York:
Oxford University Press
.
366 p.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Tales of the Barbarians: Ethnography and Empire in the Roman West
Woolf, G. D.
2011
Wiley-Blackwell
.
167 p.
(Blackwell Bristol Lectures on Greece, Rome and the Classical Tradition).
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Et tu Bruté?
The murder of Caesar and political assassination.
Woolf, G. D.
2006
Profile Books
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Ancient Civilizations. The Illustrated Guide to Belief, Mythology and Art
Woolf, G. D. (ed.)
2005
London:
Duncan Baird Publications
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Rome the Cosmopolis
Edwards, C. &
Woolf, G. D.
2003
Cambridge University Press
.
266 p.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Cambridge Illustrated History of the Roman World
Woolf, G. D. (ed.)
2003
Cambridge University Press
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Becoming Roman. The Origins of Provincial Civilization in Gaul
Woolf, G. D.
1998
Cambridge University Press
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Literacy and Power in the Ancient World
Woolf, G. D. (ed.)
& Bowman, A. (ed.)
1994
Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press
.
Research output
:
Book/Report
›
Book
Ethnography and the Gods in Tacitus' Germania.
Woolf, G. D.
2013
In:
Ancient Ethnography. New Approaches.
Almagor, E. & Skinner, J. (eds.).
Bloomsbury
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Chapter X Gaul
Woolf, G. D.
2013
In:
Cambridge Ancient History: Plates for volumes VII.2 & VIII.
Smith, C. (ed.).
Cambridge University Press
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Ritual and the Individual in Roman Religion
Woolf, G. D.
2013
In:
Religious individualization in the Ancient Mediterranean.
Rüpke, J. (ed.).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Greek Archaeologists in Rome
Woolf, G. D.
2013
In:
Ruling through Greek Eyes: Interactions between Rome and the Greeks in Imperial Times.
Muniz Grijalvo, E., Cortés Copete, J. M., Lozano, F. & Gordillo Hervas, R. (eds.).
EJ Brill Publishers
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Reading and Religion in Rome
Woolf, G. D.
2012
In:
Reflections on Religious Individuality: Greco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian Texts and Practices.
Rüpke, J. & Spickermann, W. (eds.). Berlin:
De Gruyter
,
p. 193-208.
(Religionsgeschichtliche Versuche und Vorarbeiten).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Europe: Roman and Post-Roman Europe
Woolf, G.
2012
In:
Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Second Edition.
Silberman, N. (ed.). New York:
Oxford University Press
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Provincial Revolts in the early Roman Empire
Woolf, G. D.
2011
In:
The Jewish Revolt against Rome. Interdisciplinary Perspectives.
Popovic, M. (ed.). Leiden & Boston:
EJ Brill Publishers
,
Vol. 154
,
p. 27-44.
(Journal for the Study of Judaism Supplements).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Saving the Barbarian
Woolf, G. D.
2011
In:
Cultural Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean.
Gruen, E. (ed.). Los Angeles:
Getty Research Institute
,
p. 255-271.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Catastrophe and Aftermath
Woolf, G. D.
2011
In:
Roman Colonies in the first century of their foundation.: Proceedings of the conference held in St Andrews, September 2007.
Sweetman, R. (ed.). Oxford and Oakville:
Oxbow Books
,
p. 150-159.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Afterword: the local and the global in the Graeco-Roman east
Woolf, G. D.
2010
In:
Local Knowledge and Microidentities in the Imperial Greek World.
Whitmarsh, T. (ed.). Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press
,
p. 189-200.
(Greek Culture in the Roman World).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Found in Translation. The Religion of the Roman Diaspora.
Woolf, G. D.
2009
In:
Ritual Dynamics and Religious Change in the Roman Empire Proceedings of the Eighth Workshop of the International Network Impact of Empire (Heidelberg, July 5-7, 2007).
Hekster, O., Schmidt-Hofner, S. & Witschel, C. (eds.).
E. J. Brill, Leiden
,
p. 239-52.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
World Religion and World Empire in the Ancient Mediterranean
Woolf, G. D.
2009
In:
Die Religion des Imperium Romanum.
Cancik, H. & Rüpke, J. (eds.).
Mohr Siebeck
,
p. 19-35.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Literacy or Literacies in Rome?
Woolf, G. D.
2009
In:
Ancient Literacies: The Culture of Reading in Greece and Rome..
Johnson, W. A. & Parker, H. (eds.).
Oxford University Press
,
p. 46-68.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Cruptorix and his kind. Talking ethnicity on the middle ground.
Woolf, G. D.
2009
In:
Ethnic Constructs in Antiquity: The role of power and tradition. .
Derks, T. & Roymans, N. (eds.).
Amsterdam University Press
,
Vol. 13
,
p. 207-217.
(Amsterdam Archaeological Studies).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Divinity and Power in Ancient Rome
Woolf, G. D.
2008
In:
Religion and Power. Divine Kingship in the Ancient World and Beyond, Oriental Institute Seminars (OIS 4).
Brisch, N. (ed.).
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
,
p. 235-251.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
A Distant Mirror: Britain and Rome in the representation of empire
Woolf, G. D.
2007
In:
Revisiones de Historia Antiqua V, Laudes Provinciarum, Rétorica y política en la representación del imperio romano, Acts of the colloquium at Vitoria, vol 17 - 18.
Santos Yanguas, J. & Torregaray Pagola, E. (eds.).
p. 135-147.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Pliny's Province
Woolf, G. D.
2006
In:
Rome and the Black Sea Region. Domination, Romanisation, Resistance (Black Sea Studies 5).
Bekker-Nielsen, T. (ed.).
Aarhus University Press
,
p. 93-108.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
The end of “the end of the Iron Age”?
Woolf, G. D.
2006
In:
Les mutations de la fin de l’âge du Fer. Actes de la table ronde de Cambridge, 7-8 juillet 2005, = Celtes et Gaulois l’Archéologie face à l’Histoire (Bibracte 12) volume 4,.
Haselgrove, C. (ed.).
p. 267-276.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Playing Games with Greeks: One Roman on Greekness
Woolf, G. D.
2006
In:
Greeks on Greekness: Viewing the Greek Past Under the Roman Empire.
Konstan, D. & Said, S. (eds.).
Cambridge University Press
,
p. 162-178.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Writing Poverty in Rome
Woolf, G. D.
2006
In:
Poverty in the Roman World.
Atkins, M. & Osborne, R. (eds.).
Cambridge University Press
,
p. 83-99.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Provincial Perspectives
Woolf, G. D.
2005
In:
Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus.
Galinsky, K. (ed.). New York and Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press
,
p. 106-129.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Family History in the Roman North-West
Woolf, G. D.
2005
In:
The Roman Family in the Empire: Rome, Italy and Beyond.
George, M. (ed.).
Oxford University Press
,
p. 231-54.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Local Cult in Imperial Context: the
Matronae
revisited
Woolf, G. D.
2003
In:
Romanisation und Resistenz in Plastik, Architektur und Inschriften der Provinzen des Imperium Romanum Neue Funde und Forschungen: Akten des VII Internationalen Colloquiums über Probleme des Provinzialrömischen Kunstschaffen.
Noelke, P., Schneider, B. & Naumann-Steckner, F. (eds.). Mainz:
Philip Von Zabern
,
p. 131-138.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Seeing Apollo in Roman Gaul and Germany
Woolf, G. D.
2003
In:
Roman Imperialism and Provincial Art.
Scott, S. & Webster, J. (eds.).
Cambridge University Press
,
p. 139-152.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Afterword: How the Latin West was won
Woolf, G. D.
2002
In:
Writing Latin, Becoming Roman? Literacy and Epigraphy in the Roman West.
Cooley, A. (ed.).
Journal of Roman Archaeology
,
Vol. supplementary 48
,
p. 181-188.
(Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplements).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
The Roman Cultural Revolution in Gaul
Woolf, G. D.
2001
In:
Italy and the West. Comparative Issues in Romanization: Comparative Issues in Romanization..
Keay, S. & Terrenato, N. (eds.). Oxford:
Oxbow
,
p. 173-86.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Representation as Cult: The Case of the Jupiter Columns
Woolf, G. D.
2001
In:
Religion in den germanischen Provinzen Roms.
Spickermann, W., Cancik, H. & Rüpke, J. (eds.).
Mohr Siebeck
,
p. 117-134.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Inventing empire in ancient Rome
Woolf, G. D.
2001
In:
Empires Perspectives from archaeology and history.
Alcock, S. E., Mor, K. D. & DÕAltroy, T. N. (eds.).
Cambridge University Press
,
p. 311-322.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Regional Productions in early Roman Gaul
Woolf, G. D.
2001
In:
Economies beyond Agriculture in the classical world.
Mattingly, D. & Salmon, J. (eds.). London:
Routledge
,
p. 49-65.
(Leicester-Nottingham studies in ancient society).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
Urbanization and its discontents in early Roman Gaul
Woolf, G. D.
2000
In:
Romanization and the City: creation, transformations, and failures.: Papers of a conference held at the American Academy in Rome ... 14-16 May, 1998 .
Fentress, E. (ed.). Portsmouth, RI:
Journal of Roman Archaeology
,
p. 115-132.
(Journal of Roman Archaeology. Supplementary series).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Literacy
Woolf, G. D.
2000
In:
Cambridge Ancient History.
Bowman, A., Garnsey, P. & Rathbone, D. (eds.).
2nd Edition ed.
Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press
,
Vol. XI
,
p. 875-897.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
The Roman urbanization of the East
Woolf, G. D.
1997
In:
The Early Roman Empire in the East.
Alcock, S. E. (ed.).
Oxbow
,
p. 1-14.
(Oxbow Monographs).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Polis-religion and its alternatives in the Roman provinces
Woolf, G. D.
1997
In:
Römische Reichsreligion und Provinzialreligion, Tübingen.
Cancik, H. & Rüpke, J. (eds.).
p. 71-84.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
The uses of forgetfulness in Roman Gaul
Woolf, G. D.
1996
In:
Vergangenheit und Lebenswelt.: Soziale Kommunikation, Traditionsbildung und historisches Bewußtsein.
Gehrke, H-J. & Möller, A. (eds.). Tübingen:
Gunter Narr Verlag
,
p. 361-383.
(ScriptOralia; 90).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
The Formation of Roman Provincial Cultures
Woolf, G. D.
1995
In:
Integration in the early Roman west: the role of culture and ideology : Papers arising from the international conference at the Titelberg (Luxembourg) 12-13 November 1993.
Metzler, J., Millett, M., Roymans, N. & Slofstra, J. (eds.). Luxembourg:
Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art
,
p. 9-18.
(Dossiers d'archéologie du Musée national d'histoire et d'art).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Power and the spread of writing in the West
Woolf, G. D.
1994
In:
Literacy and Power in the Ancient World.
Bowman, A. K. & Woolf, G. D. (eds.).
Cambridge University Press
,
p. 84-98.
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Chapter
European Social Development and Roman Imperialism
Woolf, G. D.
1993
In:
Frontières d'Empire. Nature et signification des frontières romaine: actes de la Table ronde internationale de Nemours, 21-22-23 mai 1992.
Brun, P., van der Leeuw, S. & Whittaker, C. R. (eds.). Nemours:
Editions A.P.R.A.I.F
,
p. 13-20.
(Mémoires du Musée de préhistoire d'Ile-de-France).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
The Social Significance of Trade in Late Iron Age Europe
Woolf, G. D.
1993
In:
Trade and Exchange in Prehistoric Europe: Proceedings of a conference held at the University of Bristol, April 1992.
Scarre, C. & Healy, F. (eds.). Oxford:
Oxbow
,
p. 211-218.
(Oxbow Monographs).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Roman Peace
Woolf, G. D.
1993
In:
War and Society in the Roman World.
Rich, J. & Shipley, G. (eds.). London:
Routledge
,
p. 171-194.
(Leicester-Nottingham Studies in Ancient Society).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Patronage of the rural poor in the Roman world
Woolf, G. D.
& Garnsey, P.
1989
In:
Patronage in Ancient Society.
Wallace-Hadrill, A. (ed.).
Routledge
,
p. 153-170.
(Leicester-Nottingham studies in ancient society).
Research output
:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
›
Other contribution
Cultural change in Roman Antiquity: observations on agency.
Woolf, G. D.
2007
In :
Kodai Journal of Ancient History
.
13/14
,
p. 157-167.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
The present state and future scope of Roman Archaeology: a comment
Woolf, G. D.
Jul-2004
In :
American Journal of Archaeology
.
108
,
3
,
p. 417-428.
12 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
A Sea of faith?
Woolf, G. D.
2004
In :
Mediterranean Historical Review
.
18
,
2
,
p. 126-143.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Generations of Aristocracy. Continuities and discontinuities in the societies of Interior Gaul
Woolf, G. D.
2002
In :
Archaeological Dialogues
.
9
,
1
,
p. 2-15, 39-65.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Beyond Romans and natives
Woolf, G.
Feb-1997
In :
World Archaeology
.
28
,
3
,
p. 339-350.
12 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Monumental Writing and the expansion of Roman Society in the Early Empire
Woolf, G. D.
1996
In :
Journal of Roman Studies
.
86
,
p. 22-39.
18 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Becoming Roman, Staying Greek: Culture, Identity and the Civilizing Process in the Roman East
Woolf, G. D.
1994
In :
Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society
.
40
,
p. 116-43.
28 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Les prospections ACO en vallée de Somme.: Rapport préliminaire (campagnes de 1991 et 1992)
Woolf, G. D.
& Cadoux, J-L.
1993
In :
Revue archéologique de Picardie
.
3/4
,
p. 113.
120 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Rethinking the oppida
Woolf, G. D.
1993
In :
Oxford Journal of Archaeology
.
12
,
2
,
p. 223.
234 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Imperialism, empire and the integration of the Roman economy
WOOLF, G.
Feb-1992
In :
World Archaeology
.
23
,
3
,
p. 283-293.
11 p.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
World systems analysis and the Roman empire
Woolf, G. D.
1990
In :
Journal of Roman Archaeology
.
3
,
p. 44-58.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
Food, poverty and patronage: The significance of the epigraphy of the Roman Alimentary Schemes in early Imperial Italy
Woolf, G. D.
1990
In :
Papers of the British School at Rome
.
58
,
p. 197-228.
Research output
:
Contribution to journal
›
Article
For further information on publications, please view my profile on the university's research portal.
Research students
I am glad to supervise students working in any of the above fields, and in many other areas. Former students have written theses on the North Italian Gauls, epigraphy and society in Roman Italy, on Velleius Paterculus, Roman Narbonensis, Cyprian of Carthage, Culture and Identity in Lycia, the economy of Roman Britain and various topics in Roman Religion and Roman Culture.
Teaching
I currently hold a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust and will only be supervising research students until academic year 2013-14.
Otherwise I teach on a range of ancient history, classical studies and archaeology modules. At St Andrews I have taught Honours modules on the Roman Economy, on Roman Leisure, on Greece under Roman Rule, on Roman Religion, on Ancient Slavery and on Archaic Greece. I have taught on a postgraduate taught courses, in St Andrews and abroad.
Academic career
After graduating from Oxford in 1985 I wrote a doctorate in Cambridge where I was fortunate to be supervised by Peter Garnsey and Keith Hopkins in ancient history, and Ian Hodder and Sander van der Leeuw in archaeology. I also spent some time as a CNRS chercheur at the Laboratoire d'Archéologie of the École Normale Supérieure in the rue d'Ulm in Paris, taught part-time at the University of Leicester for three years and was a research fellow of Christ's College. In 1990 I returned to Oxford to teach ancient history and archaeology as a fellow of first Magdalen and then Brasenose Colleges before being elected in 1998 to a chair at St. Andrews.
I have served on the Councils of the Roman Society, the Classical Association and the Classical Association of Scotland. I have chaired the HEA subject centre advisory committee for Classics and an AHRC postgraduate panel, and have served on various national and international committees, including RAE 2008 subpanel 59. I have served as an external examiner for taught and research degrees in classics, history and archaeology; have advised on appointments and been an external member of departmental reviews in a number of universities.
I have contributed to various reference works including the Cambridge Ancient History, the Barrington Classical Atlas, the Neue Pauly and the Oxford Classical Dictionary. I have held visiting appointments in Rome, Paris, Erfurt and Campinas and have also been lucky enough to give a number of invited lectures around the world.
I am currently Editor of the Journal of Roman Studies. I am also a member of the editorial boards of Classica et Mediaevalia , the American Journal of Archaeology, International Journal of Euro-Mediterranean Studies, and New Voices in Classical Reception Studies.
