Agricultural Policy in the Maghreb during the Severan Era (193–235 CE)

Abstract

The Severan dynasty marked a transformative period in the agricultural development of Roman North Africa. Between 193 and 235 CE, the provinces of Africa Proconsularis, Numidia, and the Mauretanian territories experienced significant policy interventions that reshaped land tenure, production systems, and rural economies. This study examines the agricultural policies implemented under emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla, situating these measures within broader imperial strategies of economic exploitation and provincial administration. Through an interdisciplinary methodology combining epigraphic evidence, archaeological survey data, legal texts, and palynological analysis, this research demonstrates that Severan agricultural policy in the Maghreb represented both continuity with earlier Antonine practices and distinctive innovations tied to the dynasty's North African origins and fiscal requirements. The period witnessed intensified efforts to convert marginal lands to agricultural production, expansion of imperial estate systems, modifications to tenant legislation, and infrastructure investments that facilitated the region's emergence as a dominant supplier of olive oil, cereals, and other commodities to Mediterranean markets. Understanding Severan agricultural policy requires careful attention to regional variation, the interplay between imperial directives and local implementation, and the contested nature of land exploitation in a landscape characterized by diverse ecological zones and competing economic interests.