Gallo-Roman culture

The term Gallo-Roman describes the Romanized culture of Gaul under the rule of the Roman Empire.

This is characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context.

The well-studied meld of cultures in Gaul gives historians a model against which to compare and contrast parallel developments of Romanization in other, less-studied Roman provinces.Interpretatio romana offers Roman names for Gaulish deities such as the smith-god Gobannus, but of Celtic deities only the horse-patroness Epona penetrates Romanized cultures beyond the confines of Gaul.

The barbarian invasions beginning in the early fifth century force upon Gallo-Roman culture fundamental changes in politics, in the economic underpinning, in military organization.

The Gothic settlement of 418 offers a double loyalty, as Western Roman authority disintegrates at Rome.

The plight of the highly Romanized governing class is examined by R.W.

Mathisen the struggles of bishop Hilary of Arles by M. Heinzelmann.Into the seventh century, Gallo-Roman culture persists particularly in the areas of Gallia Narbonensis that develop into Occitania, Gallia Cisalpina and to a lesser degree, Aquitania.

The formerly Romanized north of Gaul, once it has been occupied by the Franks, develops into Merovingian culture instead.

Roman life, centered on the public events and cultural responsibilities of urban life in the res publica and the sometimes luxurious life of the self-sufficient rural villa system, takes longer to collapse in the Gallo-Roman regions, where the Visigoths largely inherit the status quo in 418.

Gallo-Roman language persistsin the northeast into the Silva Carbonaria that forms an effective cultural barrier with the Franks to the north and east, and in the northwest to the lower valley of the Loire, where Gallo-Roman culture interfaces with Frankish culture in a city like Tours and in the person of that Gallo-Roman bishop confronted with Merovingian royals, Gregory of Tours.

The Gallo-Roman language eventually evolves into the modern Romance languages of France, including standard French, Francoprovençal, and Occitan.

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