Lusitania and the Roman Empire in the 1st Century BCE
By Manuel NEVES, PhD, Social and Historical Anthropology from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences)
Astérix in Lusitania
Presentation
Writer: Fabcaro Drawings by: Didier Conrad |
Publisher: Les Éditions Albert René Publication date: 23. october 2025 |
What can you tell us about Lusitania and its people?
The first references to Lusitanians in Greco-Roman sources report a people who lived in the mountainous region of Estrela and its surroundings, in the central northern part of today’s Portugal. These pre-Celtic tribes, ruled by a rich warrior elite, lived in fortified settlements called “castros.” Communities in the highlands opted for animal husbandry and gathering, while those in the lowlands enjoyed richer, more varied agriculture.
What was the role of Lusitania in the Roman Empire?
As the Romans gradually conquered the Iberian Peninsula, Lusitania was created as a Roman province. Its importance to the empire came first and foremost from its numerous abundant mineral resources. Indeed, Lusitania was considered one of the main sources of gold for Rome. Tin production along the Lusitanian coastal region, for example, played a part in setting up maritime trade routes to the Mediterranean. Thus, as we can see, within less than a century of Romanization, Lusitania had become an indispensable part of the Roman Empire.
Can we speak of any parallels between the history of the Gauls and that of the Lusitanians?
We can even talk about several parallels! First of all, they shared a common enemy: Rome. Both also had a charismatic leader: much as Vercingétorix did with the Gauls, Viriate led the Lusitanians in a rebellion that lasted eight years and went down in history. Only through treachery—by killing him in his sleep—did the Empire manage to get rid of this astute strategist. Another commonality to keep in mind: it was Julius Caesar who finally overcame the Lusitanians in 60 BCE, much as he did the Gauls ten years later.
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