Roman Power : A Thousand Years of Empire

The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most enduring in world history. In his new book, distinguished historian W. V. Harris sets out to explain, within an eclectic theoretical framework, the waxing and eventual waning of Roman imperial power, together with the Roman community's internal power structures (political power, social power, gender power and economic power). Effectively integrating analysis with a compelling narrative, he traces this linkage between the external and the internal through three very long periods, and part of the originality of the book is that it almost uniquely considers both the gradual rise of the Roman Empire and its demise as an empire in the fifth and seventh centuries AD. Professor Harris contends that comparing the Romans of these diverse periods sharply illuminates both the growth and the shrinkage of Roman power as well as the Empire's extraordinary durability. This book explains the growth, durability and eventual shrinkage of Roman imperial power alongside the Roman state's internal power structures. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 2 Title page......Page 4 Copyright information......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Table of contents......Page 8 List of illustrations......Page 10 List of maps......Page 13 Preface......Page 14 Timeline......Page 17 List of abbreviations......Page 21 1 The long-term evolution of Roman power......Page 24 2 The Romans against outsiders, 400 bc to ad 16......Page 38 Armed force and enduring control under the middle Republic: an outline......Page 39 Techniques of domination under the middle Republic, to 241 bc......Page 46 World power, 241–146 bc......Page 56 Questions and controversies......Page 60 Almost irresistible......Page 73 Conclusion......Page 89 Inside an aristocratic society......Page 91 The form and nature of the polity in the middle Republic......Page 97 Late-Republican discontents......Page 110 One-man rule and its effects on wider power-relationships......Page 121 Charismatic power, economic power......Page 128 Internal power, External power......Page 130 Expansion slows and ceases......Page 135 Desires and reasons......Page 148 Emperors and their rivals......Page 156 Military strength and weakness......Page 160 Knowledge and methods......Page 167 Conclusion......Page 172 Durability and docility: the historical problem......Page 174 Assimilation and identity......Page 181 The emperor......Page 189 Imperial questions......Page 195 Diocletian and Constantine......Page 211 High and mid-level officials......Page 215 Order and law......Page 219 Lower officials......Page 224 Social and gender power......Page 225 The power of ideas......Page 234 Internal power, external power......Page 240 The crucial decades......Page 242 Western woes......Page 243 An attempt at explanation......Page 249 Two centuries later......Page 263 The unsustainability of Justinian’s empire......Page 272 Conclusion......Page 284 Sixty crucial years of imperial power......Page 287 Bishops, priests, and the state......Page 300 Social disintegration......Page 304 Ideas......Page 312 From Justinian to Heraclius and beyond......Page 315 Internal rivals......Page 316 Internal power, external power......Page 323 8 Retrospect and some reflections......Page 326 References......Page 339 Index......Page 368 Cover 1 Half-title 2 Title page 4 Copyright information 5 Dedication 6 Table of contents 8 List of illustrations 10 List of maps 13 Preface 14 Timeline 17 List of abbreviations 21 1 The long-term evolution of Roman power 24 2 The Romans against outsiders, 400 bc to ad 16 38 Armed force and enduring control under the middle Republic: an outline 39 Techniques of domination under the middle Republic, to 241 bc 46 World power, 241–146 bc 56 Questions and controversies 60 Almost irresistible 73 Conclusion 89 3 The Romans against each other, from republic to monarchy 91 Inside an aristocratic society 91 The form and nature of the polity in the middle Republic 97 Late-Republican discontents 110 One-man rule and its effects on wider power-relationships 121 Charismatic power, economic power 128 Internal power, External power 130 4 The Romans against outsiders, ad 16 to 337 135 Expansion slows and ceases 135 Desires and reasons 148 Emperors and their rivals 156 Military strength and weakness 160 Knowledge and methods 167 Conclusion 172 5 The Romans against each other: from empire to nation? 174 Durability and docility: the historical problem 174 Assimilation and identity 181 The emperor 189 Imperial questions 195 Diocletian and Constantine 211 High and mid-level officials 215 Order and law 219 Lower officials 224 Social and gender power 225 The power of ideas 234 Internal power, external power 240 6 The Romans against outsiders, ad 337 to 641 242 The crucial decades 242 Western woes 243 An attempt at explanation 249 Two centuries later 263 The unsustainability of Justinian’s empire 272 Conclusion 284 7 The Romans against each other in two long crises 287 Sixty crucial years of imperial power 287 Bishops, priests, and the state 300 Social disintegration 304 Ideas 312 From Justinian to Heraclius and beyond 315 Internal rivals 316 Internal power, external power 323 8 Retrospect and some reflections 326 References 339 Index 368 The Roman Empire Was One Of The Largest And Most Enduring In World History. In His New Book, Distinguished Historian William V. Harris Sets Out To Explain, Within An Eclectic Theoretical Framework, The Waxing And Eventual Waning Of Roman Imperial Power, Together With The Roman Community's Internal Power Structures (political Power, Social Power, Gender Power And Economic Power). Effectively Integrating Analysis With A Compelling Narrative, He Traces This Linkage Between The External And The Internal Through Three Very Long Periods, And Part Of The Originality Of The Book Is That It Almost Uniquely Considers Both The Gradual Rise Of The Roman Empire And Its Demise As An Empire In The Fifth And Seventh Centuries Ad. Professor Harris Contends That Comparing The Romans Of These Diverse Periods Sharply Illuminates Both The Growth And The Shrinkage Of Roman Power As Well As The Empire's Extraordinary Durability. Part I. The Long-term Evolution Of Roman Power -- Part Ii. The Romans Against Outsiders, 400 Bc To 16 Ad -- Part Iii. The Romans Against Each Other, From Republic To Monarchy -- Part Iv. The Romans Against Outsiders, 16 To 337 Ad -- Part V. The Romans Against Each Other: From Empire To Nation? -- Part V. The Romans Against Outsiders, 337 To 636 Ad -- Part Vii. The Romans Against Each Other In Two Long Crises -- Part Viii. Retrospect And Some Reflections. W.v. Harris. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 316-344) And Index. The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most enduring in world history. In his new book, distinguished historian William V. Harris sets out to explain, within an eclectic theoretical framework, the waxing and eventual waning of Roman imperial power, together with the Roman community's internal power structures (political power, social power, gender power and economic power). Effectively integrating analysis with a compelling narrative, he traces this linkage between the external and the internal through three very long periods, and part of the originality of the book is that it almost uniquely considers both the gradual rise of the Roman Empire and its demise as an empire in the fifth and seventh centuries AD. Professor Harris contends that comparing the Romans of these diverse periods sharply illuminates both the growth and the shrinkage of Roman power as well as the Empire's extraordinary durability. - Back cover.