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Academic Report by Professor Jinyu Liu from Emory University
2023-09-15
Ren Yi Fan reports. On August 17th, 2023, the Department of Ancient and Medieval History of the Institute of World History (IWH) and the Center for Comparative Studies of Ancient Civilizations (CCSAC), Chinese Academy of History invited Professor Jinyu Liu, Betty Gage Chair of Roman History, Emory University, to give an online lecture entitled “Firefighting in Ancient Rome”. By utilizing Roman Law documents, Professor Liu introduced the firefighting instruments and regulations in ancient Rome, arguing that the Romans attached great importance to firefighting. She then discussed the development and function of fire brigades (vigiles) and the role of their leader (praefectus vigilum) in Roman bureaucracy and administration. Finally, she analysed the two great fires in the imperial period and the general attitudes of the Romans toward natural disasters.