The Roman Revolution is one of the most momentous periods of change in history, in which an imperial but quasidemocratic power changed into an autocracy. This book studies the way the Roman army changed in the last eighty years of the Republic, so that an army of imperial conquest became transformed into a set of rival personal armies under the control of the triumvirs. It emphasizes the development of what has often been regarded as a static monolithic institution, and its centrality to political change.

The Roman Revolution is a profound and unconventional treatment of a great theme - the fall of the Republic and the decline of freedom in Rome between 60 BC and AD 14, and the rise to power of the greatest of the Roman Emperors, Augustus. The transformation of state and society, the violent transference of power and property, and the establishment of Augustus' rule are presented in an unconventional narrative, which quotes from ancient evidence, refers seldomly to modern authorities, and states controversial opinions quite openly. The result is a book which is both fresh and compelling.

Sample Text

This book studies the way the Roman army changed in the last eighty years of the Republic, so that an army of imperial conquest became transformed into a set of rival personal armies under the control of the triumvirs.

Contents: PART ONE : SUPPLYING THE ROMAN ARMIES HERZ, P.: Die Logistik der kaiserzeitlichen Armee. Strukturelle Überlegungen. ERDKAMP, P.: The Corn Supply of the Roman Armies during the Principate (27 BC - 235 AD). CARRERAS MONTFORT, C.: The Roman military supply during the Principate. Transportation and staples. BLOIS, L. DE: Monetary policies, the soldiers’ pay and the onset of crisis in the first half of the third century AD. PART TWO : COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT HAYNES, I.: Britain’s First Information Revolution. The Roman army and the transformation of economic life. KISSEL, Th.: Road-building as a munus publicum. KOLB, A.: Army and transport. PART THREE : THE ROMAN WEST: HISPANIA, BRITANNIA AND GERMANIA DAVIES. J.L.: Soldiers, peasants, industry and towns. The Roman army in Britain. A Welsh perspective. WHITTAKER, C.R.: Supplying the army. Evidence from Vindolanda. FUNARI, P.P.A.: The consumption of olive oil in Roman Britain and the role of the army. WIERSCHOWSKI, L.: Das römische Heer und die ökonomische Entwicklung Germaniens in den ersten Jahrzehnten des 1. Jahrhunderts. REMESAL RODRIGUEZ, J.: Baetica and Germania. Notes on the concept of ‘provincial interdependence’ in the Roman Empire. KONEN, H.: Die ökonomische Bedeutung der Provinzialflotten während der Zeit des Prinzipates. PART FOUR : NORTH AFRICA AND THE EAST MORIZOT, P.: Impact de l’armée romaine sur l’économie de l’Afrique. ROTH, J.: The army and the economy in Judaea and Palestine. ALSTON, R.: Managing the frontiers. Supplying the frontier troops in the sixth and seventh centuries.

At its height the Roman Empire stretched across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, maintained by an army of modest size but great diversity. In popular culture these soldiers are often portrayed in a generic fashion, but continuing research indicates significant variations in Roman armour and equipment not only between different legions and the provincially-raised auxiliary cohorts that made up half of the army, but also between different regions within the empire. With reference to the latest archaeological and documentary evidence Dr D'Amato investigates how Roman Army units in the Western provinces were equipped, exploring the local influences and traditions that caused the variations in attire.

An insightful and original exploration of Roman Republic politics In A Companion to the Political Culture of the Roman Republic, editors Valentina Arena and Jonathan Prag deliver an incisive and original collection of forty contributions from leading academics representing various intellectual and academic traditions. The collected works represent some of the best scholarship in recent decades and adopt a variety of approaches, each of which confronts major problems in the field and contributes to ongoing research. The book represents a new, updated, and comprehensive view of the political world of Republican Rome and some of the included essays are available in English for the first time. Divided into six parts, the discussions consider the institutionalized loci, political actors, and values, rituals, and discourse that characterized Republican Rome. The Companion also offers several case studies and sections on the history of the interpretation of political life in the Roman Republic. Key features include: A thorough introduction to the Roman political world as seen through the wider lenses of Roman political culture Comprehensive explorations of the fundamental components of Roman political culture, including ideas and values, civic and religious rituals, myths, and communicative strategies Practical discussions of Roman Republic institutions, both with reference to their formal rules and prescriptions, and as patterns of social organization In depth examinations of the 'afterlife' of the Roman Republic, both in ancient authors and in early modern and modern times Perfect for students of all levels of the ancient world, A Companion to the Political Culture of the Roman Republic will also earn a place in the libraries of scholars and students of politics, political history, and the history of ideas.