Harina de otro costal: género y cambios tecnológicos en la producción de harina en la Galilea romana

The study of Roman Palestine usually focuses on political and religious developments and often draws upon archaeological materials. The technology involved in flour production, however, has been virtually ignored. That household task was performed entirely by women in the preceding periods. But new technologies of the Roman period—with machine milling replacing hand grinding—spread to the urban centres of Galilee (but not the smaller settlements) and involved a shift to commercial milling controlled by males. This shift was beneficial for women in some ways but also gave rise to negative views about women that were to have long-term consequences.