Soldier and Society in Roman Egypt: A Social History

by Richard Alston

Overview

The province of Egypt provides unique archaeological and documentary evidence for the study of the Roman army. In this fascinating social history Richard Alston examines the economic, cultural, social and legal aspects of a military career, illuminating the life and role of the individual soldier in the army.
Soldier and Society in Roman Eygpt provides a complete reassessment of the impact of the Roman army on local societies, and convincingly challenges the orthodox picture. The soldiers are seen not as an isolated elite living in fear of the local populations, but as relatively well-integrated into local communities. The unsuspected scale of the army's involvement in these communities offers a new insight into both Roman rule in Egypt and Roman imperialism more generally.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134664757
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/11/2002
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Richard Alston

Date of Birth:

May 21, 1923

Table of Contents

List of maps, tables and figures, Preface, Abbreviations, 1 INTRODUCTION, 2 THE ARMY AND THE PROVINCE, 3 RECRUITMENT AND VETERAN SETTLEMENT, 4 THE LEGAL STATUS OF SOLDIERS AND VETERAN,S, 5 THE ARMY IN ACTION, 6 THE ARMY AND THE ECONOMY, 7 KARANIS: A VILLAGE IN EGYPT, 8 DIOCLETIAN AND AFTER, 9 CONCLUSION, APPENDIX 1: MILITARY UNITS, APPENDIX 2: THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE ARMY, Notes, Bibliography, Index

Editorial Reviews

'A new insight into both Roman rule in Egypt and into Roman imperialism.' - Oxbow Book News

'A very important book ... it can occupy its deserved place among those books which have significantly contributed to our understanding of Roman Egypt and the Roman army.' - Discussiona in Egyptology

'A rare insight into the life of a Roman soldier the book is most informative, provocative and stimulating.' - Bibliotheca Orientalis

From the Publisher