Final answer:
The Romans did not suppress indigenous pottery traditions; they often assimilated and adapted local artistic styles, leading to cultural fusion. Local traditions in areas such as North Africa and Egypt continued, with mutual influences between Roman and indigenous cultures. The Romans admired and collected art from different cultures, integrating it rather than displacing it.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, the Romans generally did not suppress indigenous pottery traditions. Instead, they often assimilated and adapted local artistic styles, leading to a fusion between Roman culture and local customs. While Roman governance and military spread brought Roman customs and goods, local life coexisted with these influences, especially in provincial areas. Local elites and populations would sometimes emulate Roman culture as they sought to gain prominence or practical advantages within the imperial system. Moreover, the Romans had a profound influence in various regions, as seen with the adoption of Roman sculpture styles and masonry techniques. However, in most cases, this did not result in the eradication of indigenous arts and crafts, such as pottery.
In regions like North Africa and Egypt, the artistic traditions, including pottery making, continued to develop with Roman influence adding to the mix rather than completely displacing it. Egyptian art and architecture, for instance, influenced Romans just as much as Roman styles influenced the locals. Despite the empire's enormous cultural and administrative influence, there was often an accommodation and melding of cultures rather than an outright suppression. This accommodation includes the Romans admiring and collecting art from different cultures, such as the Greeks, and integrating those styles into their own art and architecture. Roman legions could carry their brick-making techniques across the empire, but this technological diffusion did not necessarily stop local pottery production.