Romanità and Race in Italy (and Beyond)

summary: A century ago, in Fascist Italy, archaeological evidence was used to demonstrate the racial superiority of ancient Roman civilization. This article analyzes a particular moment in the construction of the Fascist empire, namely its colonial, exploitative relationships with the ancient Roman past both in Italy and in Libya and with the people living there. The article will focus on the link between racism and Roman antiquity and how it was reinforced by disciplines such as archaeology, museology, and anthropology.