Mediterranean Anarchy, Interstate War, and the Rise of Rome (Hellenistic Culture and Society Book 48)

"This ground-breaking study is the first to employ modern international relations theory to place Roman militarism and expansion of power within the broader Mediterranean context of interstate anarchy. Arthur M. Eckstein challenges claims that Rome was an exceptionally warlike and aggressive state - not merely in modern but in ancient terms - by arguing that intense militarism and aggressiveness were common among all Mediterranean polities from ca 750 B.C. onwards. In his wide-ranging and masterful narrative, Eckstein explains that international politics in the ancient Mediterranean world was, in political science terms, a multipolar anarchy: international law was minimal, and states struggled desperately for power and survival by means of warfare. Eventually, one state, the Republic of Rome, managed to create predominance and a sort of peace. Rome was certainly a militarized and aggressive state, but it was successful not because it was exceptional in its ruthlessness, Eckstein convincingly argues; rather, it was successful because of its exceptional ability to manage a large network of foreign allies, and to assimilate numerous foreigners within the polity itself. This book shows how these characteristics, in turn, gave Rome incomparably large resources for the grim struggle of states fostered by the Mediterranean anarchy - and hence they were key to Rome's unprecedented success."--Publisher's description. "This ground-breaking study is the first to employ modern international relations theory to place Roman militarism and expansion of power within the broader Mediterranean context of interstate anarchy. Arthur M. Eckstein challenges claims that Rome was an exceptionally warlike and aggressive state - not merely in modern but in ancient terms - by arguing that intense militarism and aggressiveness were common among all Mediterranean polities from ca 750 B.C. onwards. In his wide-ranging and masterful narrative, Eckstein explains that international politics in the ancient Mediterranean world was, in political science terms, a multipolar anarchy: international law was minimal, and states struggled desperately for power and survival by means of warfare. Eventually, one state, the Republic of Rome, managed to create predominance and a sort of peace. Rome was certainly a militarized and aggressive state, but it was successful not because it was exceptional in its ruthlessness, Eckstein convincingly argues; rather, it was successful because of its exceptional ability to manage a large network of foreign allies, and to assimilate numerous foreigners within the polity itself. This book shows how these characteristics, in turn, gave Rome incomparably large resources for the grim struggle of states fostered by the Mediterranean anarchy - and hence they were key to Rome's unprecedented success."--De l'éditeur This ground-breaking study is the first to employ modern international relations theory to place Roman militarism and expansion of power within the broader Mediterranean context of interstate anarchy. Arthur M. Eckstein challenges claims that Rome was an exceptionally warlike and aggressive state—not merely in modern but in ancient terms—by arguing that intense militarism and aggressiveness were common among all Mediterranean polities from ca 750 B.C. onwards.

In his wide-ranging and masterful narrative, Eckstein explains that international politics in the ancient Mediterranean world was, in political science terms, a multipolar anarchy: international law was minimal, and states struggled desperately for power and survival by means of warfare. Eventually, one state, the Republic of Rome, managed to create predominance and a sort of peace. Rome was certainly a militarized and aggressive state, but it was successful not because it was exceptional in its ruthlessness, Eckstein convincingly argues; rather, it was successful because of its exceptional ability to manage a large network of foreign allies, and to assimilate numerous foreigners within the polity itself. This book shows how these characteristics, in turn, gave Rome incomparably large resources for the grim struggle of states fostered by the Mediterranean anarchy—and hence they were key to Rome's unprecedented success. Political Science And Roman History -- Realist Paradigms Of Interstate Behavior -- The Anarchic Structure Of Interstate Relations In Classical Greece -- The Anarchic Structure Of Interstate Relations In The Hellenistic Age -- Terrores Multi : The Rivals Of Rome For Power In The Western Mediterranean -- Rome And Roman Militarism Within The Anarchic Interstate System -- Roman Exceptionalism And Nonexceptionalism. Arthur M. Eckstein. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 319-342) And Index. Content: Political science and Roman history -- Realist paradigms of interstate behavior -- The anarchic structure of interstate relations in classical Greece -- The anarchic structure of interstate relations in the Hellenistic Age -- Terrores multi : the rivals of Rome for power in the western Mediterranean -- Rome and Roman militarism within the anarchic interstate system -- Roman exceptionalism and nonexceptionalism. Employs modern international relations theory to place Roman militarism and expansion of power within the broader Mediterranean context of interstate anarchy. This study challenges claims that Rome was an exceptionally warlike and aggressive state, by arguing that intense militarism and aggressiveness were common among all Mediterranean polities International politics in the ancient Mediterranean world was long a multipolar anarchy-a world containing a plurality of powerful states, contending with each other for hegemony, within a situation where international law was minimal and in any case unen