Michael Ivanovich Rostovtseff (Rostowzew)

A Russian-born historian of ancient Western history. After studying at the University of St. Petersburg, he became a professor there in 1903. After the October Revolution in 1917, he fled to England the following year. Two years later, he went to the United States, where he was a professor at the University of Wisconsin from 1920 to 1925. He then served as a professor at Yale University and head of archaeology research there, becoming a professor emeritus in 1939. He systematically incorporated the results of archaeology into his historical research, and created a vivid picture of ancient society. However, his view of ancient history, which sees classical ancient civilization as the civilization of the "urban bourgeoisie" and that it was destroyed by the "proletariat," has been criticized from various quarters. His main works include "Social and Economic History of the Roman Empire" (1926, second edition 1957) and "Social and Economic History of the Hellenistic World" (1941). His other works, "Iranians and Greeks in Southern Russia" (1922) and "Caravan Cities" (1931, English edition 1932), have also been translated into Japanese.

[Akira Sakaguchi]

"Ancient Southern Russia" translated by Ryohei Tsuboi and Kamejiro Kayamoto (1944, Kuwana Bunseido / reprint edition, 1976, Hara Shobo)" ▽ "Caravan City" translated by Masanori Aoyagi (1978, Shinchosha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ロシア生まれの西洋古代史家。ペテルブルグ大学で学んだのち、1903年より同大学教授。17年に十月革命が起こると、翌年イギリスに亡命。さらに2年後アメリカに渡り、20～25年ウィスコンシン大学教授。以後、エール大学教授、同大学考古学研究主任を務め、39年名誉教授となる。彼は考古学の成果を組織的に歴史研究に取り入れ、生き生きとした古代社会像を描き出した。ただし、古典古代文明を「都市ブルジョアジー」の文明ととらえ、それを「プロレタリアート」が破壊したとする彼の古代史観は、さまざまな方面からの批判を浴びている。おもな著書として『ローマ帝国社会経済史』（1926、第二版1957）、『ヘレニズム世界社会経済史』（1941）があり、そのほか『南ロシアにおけるイラン人とギリシア人』（1922）と『隊商都市』（1931、英語版1932）には邦訳がある。

［坂口　明］

『坪井良平・榧本亀次郎訳『古代の南露西亜』（1944・桑名文星堂／復刻版・1976・原書房）』▽『青柳正規訳『隊商都市』（1978・新潮社）』

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