Imperial Rome AD 193 to 284: The Critical Century

Clifford Ando

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2012

Imperial Rome AD 193 to 284

The Critical Century

Clifford Ando

In the series The Edinburgh History of Ancient Rome

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780748629206

Overview
Contents

About this book

The Roman empire during the period framed by the accession of Septimus Severus in 193 and the rise of Diocletian in 284 has conventionally been regarded as one of 'crisis'. Between 235 and 284, at least eighteen men held the throne of the empire, for an average of less than three years, a reckoning which does not take into account all the relatives and lieutenants with whom those men shared power. Compared to the century between the accession of Nerva and the death of Commodus, this appears to be a period of near unintelligibility.

The middle of the century also witnessed catastrophic, if temporary, ruptures in the territorial integrity of the empire. At slightly different times, large portions of the eastern and western halves of the empire passed under the control of powers and principalities who assumed the mantle of Roman government and exercised meaningful and legitimate juridical, political and military power over millions. The success and longevity of those political formations reflected local responses to the collapse of Roman governmental power in the face of extraordinary pressure on its borders. Even those regions that remained Roman were subjected to depredation and pillage by invading armies. The Roman peace, which had become in the last instance the justification for empire, had been shattered.

In this pioneering history Clifford Ando describes and integrates the contrasting histories of different parts of the empire and assesses the impacts of administrative, political and religious change.

Key features:

Follows Rome's confrontation and conflict with a new world power, Sassanian Persia, in which two Roman emperors lost their lives
Devotes special attention to legal history
Examines the changing nature of religious pluralism and the Christian persecutions

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Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	vi
Series editor’s preface Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Abbreviations Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Maps 1. The Roman empire in the age of Septimius Severus Publicly Available Download PDF	xii
1. A critical century Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. The principal author of the decline and fall Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	18
3. The legacies of Septimius Severus Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	48
4. Law, citizenship and the Antonine revolution Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	76
5. The empire and its neighbors: Maximinus to Philip Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	100
6. Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	122
7. Failure and fragmentation: From the accession of Decius to the death of Gallienus Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	146
8. Government and governmentality Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	176
9. Reconquest and recidivism, 268–84 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201
10. Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	224
Emperors and usurpers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	230
Chronology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	233
Guide to further reading Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	239
Works cited Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	242
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	253

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 272
Illustrations
- Other: 23 B/W illustrations 4 Maps
Keywords: Classics & Ancient History

eBook

Published: June 20, 2012
ISBN: 9780748629206