The Roman World from Romulus to Muhammad: A New History

Description

This volume provides a detailed examination of nearly 1,400 years of Roman history, from the foundation of the city in the eighth century BC until the evacuation of Roman troops from Alexandria in AD 642 in the face of the Arab conquests. Drawing on a vast array of ancient texts written in Latin, Greek, Syriac, Armenian, and Arabic, and relying on a host of inscriptions, archaeological data, and the evidence from ancient art, architecture, and coinage, The Roman World from Romulus to Muhammad brings to the fore the men and women who chronicled the story of the city and its empire. Richly illustrated with 71 maps and 228 illustrations―including 20 in colour―and featuring a detailed glossary and suggestions for further reading, this volume examines a broad range of topics, including ancient climate change, literature, historiography, slavery, war and conquest, the development of Christianity, the Jewish revolts, and the role of powerful imperial women. The author also considers the development of Islam within a Roman historical context, examines the events that led to the formation of the post-Roman states in Western Europe, and contemplates aff airs on the imperial periphery in the Caucasus, Ethiopia, and the Arabian Peninsula. Emphasising the voices of antiquity throughout, The Roman World from Romulus to Muhammad is an invaluable resource for students and scholars interested in the beguiling history of the world’s most famous empire. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Figures Maps Acknowledgements Copyright Notices Note to the Reader Chapter 1 The Origins of Rome Troy and Rome Sources for Roman History Rome, Italy, and the Mediterranean Early Roman Political Life Chapter 2 The Early Republic, 509–280 BC From Monarchy to Democracy Experiments in Government Rome and Her Neighbours Master of Central Italy Chapter 3 ‘True Athletes of Warfare’: Rome, Carthage, and Pyrrhus, 280–225 BC Rome, Tarentum, and Pyrrhus, 280–275 BC War With Carthage, 264–241 BC Chapter 4 ‘The Empire of the World’: Rome, Greece, Macedonia, and Hannibal, 241–200 BC Between the Wars, 241–220 BC The Outbreak of War, 219–218 BC Annihilation, 218–216 BC Total War Spain Rome, 202–200 BC Chapter 5 ‘Against Our Own Roman Gods’: Rome and the Greek East, 200–146 BC Rome and Greece, Greece and Rome Rome and Macedonia Rome, the Aetolians, and Antiochus Masters of the Mediterranean Hannibal, Rome, and Perseus The Achaean League and the End of Carthage ‘They Confirmed Their Power By Terrorism’ Chapter 6 The Collapse of Public Order, 140.63 BC The Gracchi: Land Reform and Public Violence in Rome Marius, Jugurtha, and Caecilius Metellus The Social War Mithridates, Marius, Sulla, and the March On Rome Sulla, Mithridates, and the Great Proscription After Sulla: Mithridates and Lucullus Caesar, Pompey—and Mithridates A Failing State Chapter 7 Coup, 63–30 BC The Catiline Conspiracy The First Triumvirate Civil War Dictator for Life Libertas The Second Triumvirate, 43–36 BC The Final Break, 36–31 BC Actium Chapter 8 Monarchy and Empire: Augustus, 30 BC–AD 14 After Actium The Actium Memorials Rome The Provinces Augustan Ideology Army and Empire The Res Gestae of Augustus After Augustus Chapter 9 From Stability to Chaos, AD 14–74 Tiberius, Germanicus, Agrippina—and Sejanus, AD 14–37 Mutiny Germanicus in the East The Trial of Piso Tiberius in Rome Sejanus Caligula and Claudius, AD 37–54 The Early Rule of Caligula ‘So Much for Caligula as Emperor’ Claudius Claudius and the Provinces The Invasion of Britain Conspiracies and Plots Agrippina Augusta Descent Into Anarchy: the ‘Sun King’ Nero, AD 54–68 The Early Years of Nero The Murder of Agrippina From Britain to the Sudan Romans, Jews, and Civil War, AD 68–74 The Afterlife of the Jewish Revolt Chapter 10 Consolidating the Principate, AD 72–138 The Flavians: Vespasian (AD 69–79), Titus (AD 79–81), and Domitian (AD 81–96) Rome The Provinces The Eruption of Vesuvius (AD 79) Titus and Domitian International Trade, Imperial Ideology, and the Templum Pacis Apex of Empire Nerva (AD 96–98) and Trajan (AD 98–117) Trajan in Government Trajan’s Dacian Wars The Annexation of Nabataea Trajan in the East Retrenchment: Hadrian, AD 117–38 Hadrian’s Travels The Bar Kochba Revolt Hadrian and His Family Chapter 11 Decay, 138–235 From Antoninus to Commodus Antoninus Pius Antoninus, Marcus Aurelius, and Lucius Verus The Parthian War The Marcomannic Wars The Revolt of Avidius Cassius The Danube—again The Column of Marcus Aurelius The Emperor and His Empire Commodus Civil War Pertinax, Didius Julianus, and Septimius Severus The Showdown With Albinus Severus the Military Emperor ‘Romanisation’ From Caracalla to Severus Alexander Revolt in Persia, Murder On the Rhine Chapter 12 The Empire Transformed, 235–337 The Senate Vs. the Army War With Persia Plague Decius and the Goths Crisis Secession Diocletian and the Tetrarchy: a Return to Stability War With Persia Diocletian’s Reforms Military Reforms Social, Political, and Administrative Changes Cities, Taxes, and Persecution Abdication Constantine The Collapse of the Tetrarchy Constantine and Christianity Constantine and Licinius Constantinople and Helena Constantine the Arbiter Constantine’s Government Gold, Society, and Taxes Constantine and Art Constantine and the Empire’s Neighbours Chapter 13 Division and Collapse, 337–493 Constantius II: Church and State Constantius and Julian Valentinian I and Valens The Growth of Asceticism The Road to Adrianople Theodosius I Stilicho and Alaric Arcadius, Theodosius II, Persia, and Attila Collapse in the West After Attila Romulus, Odoacer, and Theoderic AD 493 Chapter 14 The End of Antiquity, 491–642 Anastasius, 491–518 The Persian War of Anastasius The Western Kingdoms During the Reign of Anastasius Economy and Religion Justin I, 518–27 Justinian, 527–65 Justinian, the Balkans, and the Persians The Justinianic Code, the Nika Riot, and the Western Kingdoms Axum and South Arabia During the Reign of Justinian War With Persia—again Justinian and the Church(es) Art and Architecture in Constantinople and Beyond Plague and Climate Change During the Reign of Justinian Justin II (565–78) and Tiberius II (578–82) Maurice (582–602) and Phocas (602–10) The Final Struggle: Heraclius (610–41) and Khusrau II (591–628) The End of Antiquity The Jafnids: Military-Religious Arab Leadership at the Edge of Empire The War in the North, the Struggle in the South Glossary Roman Numerals Definitions of Terms Used in this Book Further Reading Index of Individuals, Deities, and Saints General Index