[Usyd_Classics_Events] CAH seminar 31st August James Tan

[Tamara Neal]

Dear Friends of Classics and Ancient History,
We are delighted to invite you to the third presentation of Semester 2, 2026 in our Classics and Ancient History research seminar series.
31st August 2026 (Monday, 12.15pm UTC+11)
V. Gordon Childe Boardroom, Madsen Building Level 2.
Zoom link: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/81493879684

Chair: Bob Cowan

Dr. James Tan The Benefits and Limits of Rome’s Curious Tax Collection (406-167 BCE).

Abstract: Given the importance of Roman expansion, the way in which Rome raised money to fund the army has been under-studied. Moreover, to the extent that the fiscal system has attracted scholarly attention, it has been as administrative or institution history, satisfying itself with a reconstruction of how the taxes were measured and handled. There has been very little attempt to explain how Roman fiscal history fit into Rome's broader cultural and socio-political history.This paper will offer a new way to remedy that shortcoming. After offering a new reconstruction of how the legions was funded, it will examine how the demands and benefits of the tax system affected Roman politics and society. The result is a model of taxation in which the movement of money created increased cohesion, stabilised politics, kept bills down and facilitated a scale of military participation with which no peer polity could compete.

Bio: James Tan is senior lecturer in Classics and Ancient History. This talk is part of his current book project, tentatively titled, “The Political Economy of Roman Army Pay, from the Conquest of Veii to the Equestrian Law Courts.”

We look forward to seeing you. Any questions, please do get in touch,

Tamara

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DR TAMARA NEAL FHEA | Senior Lecturer in Ancient Greek (Education Focused) | FASS Academic Advisor | Accredited University-wide Peer Reviewer of Teaching<https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/16284/pages/12-dot-1-peer-review-of-teaching-module-overview>
President Classical Association of NSW<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/1CgoC71R2NTymzy1nc8f3jhoTYQd?domain=classics.org.au>
Classics & Ancient History | School of Humanities│Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
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