Mario Torelli's extensive research, originally published in Italian, on the various aspects of the Romanization of Italy provide the impetus for this collection of his essays. The breadth of discussion and range of topics chosen from Torelli's work by the editors provide a comprehensive picture of those crucial centuries of Roman history that led to the "tota Italia" of the Augustan age.

Torelli's articles have been translated into English to form a unified treatment of the subject to provide a summa of recent work on a topic of major interest and relevance to all students and scholars of ancient Italy.

Studies in the Romanization of Italy provides a detailed analysis of the socio-economic and cultural background and paints a full picture of the material evidence from a number of Italian regions and a variety of local situations pertaining to the period between the Late Republic and the Early Empire.