The Romans: From Village to Empire: A History of Rome from Earliest Times to the End of the Western Empire / Edition 2

by Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel J. Gargola, Noel Lenski, Richard J. A. Talbert

Overview

"The Romans is currently the best textbook on Roman history available in English."—Walter Scheidel, Stanford University


How did a single village community in the Italian peninsula eventually become one of the most powerful imperial powers the world has ever known? In The Romans: From Village to Empire, Second Edition, Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel J. Gargola, Richard J.A. Talbert, and new coauthor Noel Lenski explore this question as they guide students through a comprehensive sweep of Roman history, ranging from the prehistoric settlements to the fall of the empire in 476. Addressing issues that still confront modern states worldwide—including warfare, empire building, consensus forging, and political fragmentation—the authors also provide glimpses into everyday Roman life and perspective, demonstrating how Rome's growth as a state is inseparable from its social and cultural development.

Vividly written and accessible, The Romans, Second Edition, traces Rome's remarkable evolution from village, to monarchy, to republic, to one-man rule by an emperor—whose power at its peak stretched from Scotland to Iraq and the Nile Valley—to the empire's fall in 476. Firmly grounded in ancient literary and material sources, the text describes and analyzes major political and military landmarks, from the Punic Wars, to Caesar's conquest of Gaul and his crossing of the Rubicon, to the victory of Octavian over Mark Antony, and through Constantine's adoption of Christianity. Featuring two new chapters (13 and 14), the second edition extends the book's coverage through the rise of Christianity, the growth of the Barbarian threat, the final years of the empire, its fall in 476, and, finally, to its revival in the East as Byzantium. This edition also combines chapters 1 and 2 into one—"Archaic Italy and the Origins of Rome"—and integrates more material on women, religion, and cultural history throughout.

Ideal for courses in Roman history and Roman civilization, The Romans, Second Edition, is enhanced by two new 8-page, 4-color inserts and almost 100 extensively captioned illustrations. It also includes more than 30 ancient maps, revised and improved under the supervision of coauthor Richard J. A. Talbert, and textual extracts that provide fascinating cultural observations made by ancient Romans themselves. A new Image Bank CD contains PowerPoint-based slides of all the photos and maps in the text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199730575
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/22/2011
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	624
Sales rank:	339,780
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

MTB: Professor of Ancient History in the Department of Classical Studies at Duke UniversityDJG: Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky, LexingtonRJAT: Kenan Professor of History and Classics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel HillNL: Professor & Chair of Classics Department at University of Colorado, Boulder. Ed. The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine (Cambridge University Press, 2006).

Table of Contents

*=New to this Edition, Maps, Figures, Plates, Preface to the Second Edition, Preface to the First Edition, Acknowledgments, Notes to the Reader, About the Authors1. ARCHAIC ITALY AND THE ORIGINS OF ROMEItaly and the Mediterranean WorldThe EvidenceItaly Before the City, Greeks and Phoenicians in the Central MediterraneanThe Rise of Cities, Beginning of Writing, Appearance of an Elite, Cities and Monumental Architecture, Warfare in the Orientalizing and Archaic Periods, Social and Economic OrganizationGreeks and Etruscans, Greek Cities of Southern Italy and Sicily, EtruscansThe Emergence of RomeThe Romans and Their Early HistoryTable 1.1 Dates of Rome's Kings According to VarroSource 1.1 Plutarch, iRomulus/iPolitics and Society under the KingsRome and the Latins2. REPUBLICAN ROME AND THE CONQUEST OF ITALYThe Early Republic, Rome and Its Neighbors in the Fifth Century, Struggle of the Orders, Fall of Veii and the Sack of RomeThe City and Its Institutions in the Fourth Century, Officials, Senate, Assemblies of CitizensSource 2.1 Servius Tullius' Creation of the Census (Livy)Table 2.1 Roman Assemblies, The City, Its Gods, and Its PriestsSource 2.2 The Roman Games (Dionysius of Halicarnassus)Rome and Central Italy, Warfare and the Civic Order, Rome in Latium and Campania, Samnite WarsExpansion of Roman Control Over Italy, Wars in Central and Northern Italy, Conquest of the SouthWar and the Roman State3. THE BEGINNINGS OF A MEDITERRANEAN EMPIRESourcesThe Nobility and the City of RomeSource 3.1 Triumph of Scipio Africanus (Appian)Wars with CarthageiFirst Punic War/i (264-241)iSecond Punic War/i (218-201)* Source 3.2 Rome's Reaction to Defeat at CannaeA Mediterranean Empire, Governors, Provinces, and Empire, Spain, Greece and Asia Minor* Source 3.3 Popillius Laenas Forestalls Antiochus' Invasion of Egypt (Polybius)North Africa4. ITALY AND EMPIRESenators, Officials, and Citizen AssembliesItaly and the Consequences of EmpireiChanging Relations Between Rome, Its/i Municipia, iand Allies/i, Roman and Italian ElitesSource 4.1 Scipio Africanus' Army Loots Carthago Nova (Polybius and Livy), Demographic and Economic ChangesRoman Politics from the Mid-Second Century, Scipio Aemilianus, Tiberius Gracchus* Source 4.2 Tiberius Gracchus Urges Romans to Support his Land-Assignment Scheme (Plutarch), Gaius Gracchus5. ITALY THREATENED, ENFRANCHISED, DIVIDEDChanges in Roman SocietyWar with Jugurtha (112-105)Italy Threatened from the North (113-101)* Source 5.1 A Spanish People Surrenders to RomeChanges in the Roman ArmyMarius' Career in Roman PoliticsSource 5.2 Marius' Bid for the Consulship (Sallust)Sixth Consulship of Marius and Second Tribunate of Saturninus (100)Administration of the ProvincesTribunate of Livius Drusus (91)Social War (91-87)Tribunate of Sulpicius Rufus (88)Sulla's First March on Rome (88)Cinna's Rule (87-84)Sulla's Second March on Rome (83-83)6. THE DOMINATION OF SULLA AND ITS LEGACYSulla's Proscriptions (82-81)Sulla the Dictator and His Program (82-81), Senate, TribunateEquites, iCourts/i, Citizens, GovernorsVerdicts on Sulla's ProgramSource 6.1 Cicero's Defense of Sextus RosciusLepidus' Uprising and Its Aftermath (78-77)Challenge from Sertorius in Spain (80-73)Source 6.2 Pompey's Letter from Spain (Sallust)Spartacus's Slave Revolt (73-71)Consulship of Crassus and Pompey (70)Pompey Frees the Mediterranean of Pirates (67)Threat from King Mithrades VI of PontusSulla's Campaign Against Mithridates (87-85)Lucullus' Struggle with Mithridates (74-67)Pompey's Defeat of Mithridates (66-63)Roles of Cassus and Cicero in Rome (65-63)Caitline's Uprising (63-62)7. END OF THE REPUBLIC: CAESAR'S DICTATORSHIPSourcesPompey's Return from the East (62)Pompey and Political Stalemate in RomePartnership of Pompey, Crassus, and CaesarCaesar's First Consulship (59)Clodius' Tribunate (58)Cicero's Recall and the Renewal of the Triumvirate (57-56)Caesar's Campaigns in Gaul (58-51)Death of Clodius and Pompey's Sole Consulship (52)Prospect of Civil War (51-49)Causes and Consequences of Caesar Crossing the Rubicon (January 49)Cicero's Governorship of Cilicia (51-50)Civil War Campaigns (49-45)Caesar's Activity as Dictator (49-44)Caesar's Impact Upon the City of RomePolitical Prospects for Rome, and for Caesar8. AUGUSTUS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ROMAN WORLDReactions to the Assassination of Caesar (44-43)Emergence of a Second Triumvirate (43)Battle of Philippi (42)Source 8.1 Laudatio TuriaePerusine War (41-40)Elimination of Sextus Pompey and Lepidus (39-36)Antony in the East (42 onwards)Clash Between Antony and Octavian (36-30)Octavian as Sole Ruler (30 Onwards)"The Republic Restored"Second Settlement (23)The Roman Family in the Augustan PeriodSuccessionTable 8.1 The Julio-Claudian FamilySenate and iEquites/iArmyThe Empire and Its ExpansionSource 8.2 Oath of LoyaltyLatin Literature in the Late Republic and Augustan AgeCity of RomeAttitudes Outside RomeiRes Gestae/i of AugustusAugustus: Final Assessment9. THE EARLY PRINCIPATE (A.D. 14-69): THE JULIO-CLAUDIANS, THE CIVIL WAR OF 68-69, AND LIFE IN THE EARLY EMPIRESourcesThe Julio-Claudian Emperors: Civil Government and Military ConcernsTiberius (14-37)Source 9.1 Senatorial Decree Concerning the Elder Gnaeus PisoGaius (Caligula) (37-41)Claudius (41-54)Source 9.2 Claudius' Speech on the Admission of Gauls to the SenateNero (54-68)Civil War in 68-69: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and VespasianEconomic and Social Change: ArmyEconomyIntellectual Life"Beneficial Ideology"Cities and ProvincesWomenDiversity: Local Languages and CultureReligious Practices and PrinciplesImperial Cult10. INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE PRINCIPATE: MILITARY EXPANSION AND ITS LIMITS, THE EMPIRE AND THE PROVINCES (69-138)SourcesInstitutionalization of the PrincipateVespasian (69-79)Titus (79-81)Domitian (81-96)A New, Better Era? Nerva (96-98)Trajan (98-117)Table 10.1 The Antonine FamilyHadiran (117-138)Source 10.1 Hadrian Inspects Troops at Lambaesis, NumidiaRoman Cities and the Empire's PeoplesTheaters and ProcessionsCircuses and Chariot RacingThe Amphitheather, and Gladitorial GamesOther Urban AmenitiesEducationState Religion and Imperial Cult11. ITALY AND THE PROVINCES: CIVIL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS (138-235)SourcesAntoninus Pius (138-161)Marcus Aurelius (161-180) and Lucius Verus (161-169)Source 11.1 A Greek Provincial Praises Roman CitizenshipSource 11.2 Morbidity and Mortality in the Roman EmpireCommodus (176-192, Ruling as Sole Augustus After 180)Civil War and the Rise of Septimus Severus (193-211)Table 11.1 The Severan FamilySource 11.3 Deification Ceremonies for Pertinax in Septimus Severus' RomeCaracalla (198-217, Ruling as Sole Augustus After 211)Macrinus (217-218)Elagabalus (218-222)Severus Alexander (222-235)Roman LawRoman CitizenshipSource 11.4 Grant of Roman Citizenship (iTabula Banasitana/i)Rome and ChristianitySource 11.5 Pliny, Trajan, and Christians12. THE THIRD-CENTURY CRISIS AND THE TETRARCHIC RESTABILIZATIONSourcesMid-Third CenturyAurelian (270-275)Diocletian, the Tetrarchy, and the Dominate (284-305)Dissolution of the Tetrarchy (305-313), and the Rise of Constantine (306-324)Source 12.1 Galerius' Edict of Toleration (April 311)Administrative Reorganization Under the DominateSource 12.2 The Tetrarchs Introduce Their Edict on Maximum Prices* 13. THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE GROWTH OF THE BARBARIAN THREAT (324-395)SourcesConstantine: A Christian EmperorThe Sons of Constantine (337-361): The Power of DynastyTable 13.1 The Constantinian FamilyJulian (361-363): A Test of the Christian EmpireSource 13.1 Julian Attempts to Bring Paganism into Line with ChristianityJovian, Valentinian I, and Valens (363-378)Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius I (379-395)New Elites for the EmpirePaganism and ChristianitySource 13.2 The End of Pagan Sacrifice* 14. THE FINAL YEARS OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE AND ROME'S REVIVAL IN THE EASTSourcesThe Theodosian Dynasty to the First Sack of Rome (395-410)Table 14.1 The Theodosian FamilyThe Fall of the Western Empire (410-476)Source 14.1 The Gothic King Athaulf's Shifting Attitude toward RomeThe Growth of a Byzantine Empire in the East (408-491)A Christian CultureSource 14.2 Holy Land Pilgrimage and the Cult of RelicsWomen's Power in Late AntiquityThe "Decline and Fall" of the Roman Empire, Timeline, Glossary, Principal Ancient Authors, Art Credits, Gazeteer, Index

Editorial Reviews

"The Romans is currently the best textbook on Roman history available in English."—Walter Scheidel, Stanford University

"This text is a very straightforward and organized full-length treatment of Roman history. It balances historical narrative with excellent explanations for terms and concepts that are unfamiliar to students . . . it succeeds marvelously at reaching its audience."—Vanessa B. Gorman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

"This is the best textbook on Roman history that I have read. It is very well conceived, thorough, and well written. While the different voices and interests of the four contributors are indeed 'detectible' in the textbook's different sections, it is obvious that a great deal of effort has been expended to make the whole work cohere. The maps are excellent and the captions for the well-chosen illustrations are really helpful to the reader."—Guy MacLean Rogers, Wellesley College

"The Romans presents a unified narrative voice despite having been written by four authors. The narrative flows seamlessly throughout the text from beginning to end. In addition, the maps and their captions are both useful and informative."—Debra L. Nousek, University of Western Ontario

"This is a very good introduction to ancient Roman history. It is clear and engaging, and the numerous pedagogical devices are well conceived and quite helpful for the beginner."—Carlos F. Norena, University of California, Berkeley

"The Romans, in general, is of outstanding quality. It provides a coherent narrative of Roman history with a strong emphasis on the development of the Roman state. The writing style is extremely clear and lively, making for an engaging read."—Denise Demetriou, Michigan State University

"This is the best textbook for students coming to Roman history for the first time. Its main qualities are an attractive and varied presentation, balance in the material, and readability . . . the writing style is attractive and clear."—Brian McGing, Trinity College, Dublin

From the Publisher