حکمرانی بر امپراتوری روم متاخر (افشای دوران باستان)

In this highly original work, Christopher Kelly paints a remarkable picture of running a superstate. He portrays a complex system of government openly regulated by networks of personal influence and the payment of money. Focusing on the Roman Empire after Constantine's conversion to Christianity, Kelly illuminates a period of increasingly centralized rule through an ever more extensive and intrusive bureaucracy. The book opens with a view of its times through the eyes of a high-ranking official in sixth-century Constantinople, John Lydus. His On the Magistracies of the Roman State , the only memoir of its kind to come down to us, gives an impassioned and revealing account of his career and the system in which he worked. Kelly draws a wealth of insight from this singular memoir and goes on to trace the operation of power and influence, exposing how these might be successfully deployed or skillfully diverted by those wishing either to avoid government regulation or to subvert it for their own ends. Ruling the Later Roman Empire presents a fascinating procession of officials, emperors, and local power brokers, winners and losers, mapping their experiences, their conflicting loyalties, their successes, and their failures. This important book elegantly recaptures the experience of both rulers and ruled under a sophisticated and highly successful system of government. (20050115) The Book Opens With A View Of Its Times Through The Eyes Of A High-ranking Official In Sixth-century Constantinople, John Lydus. His On The Magistracies Of The Roman State, The Only Memoir Of Its Kind To Come Down To Us, Gives An Impassioned And Revealing Account Of His Career And The System In Which He Worked. Kelly Draws A Wealth Of Insight From This Singular Memoir And Goes On To Trace The Operation Of Power And Influence, Exposing How These Might Be Successfully Deployed Or Skillfully Diverted By Those Wishing Either To Avoid Government Regulation Or To Subvert It For Their Own Ends. Ruling The Later Roman Empire Presents A Fascinating Procession Of Officials, Emperors, And Local Power Brokers, Winners And Losers, Mapping Their Experiences, Their Conflicting Loyalties, Their Successes, And Their Failures.--jacket. The Bureaucrat's Tale. Introduction: John Lydus: A Man And His Book. All The Prefect's Men ; The Competition For Spoils -- Rulers And The Ruled. Introduction: Passages From The Principate To Late Antiquity. Standing In Line ; Purchasing Power ; Autocracy And Bureaucracy -- Epilogue: Last Judgments. Christopher Kelly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 301-325) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Prologue: First Thoughts......Page 12 Part I . The Bureaucrat’s Tale......Page 20 Introduction: John Lydus: A Man and His Book......Page 22 All the Prefect’s Men......Page 29 The Competition for Spoils......Page 75 Part I I . Ruler s and Ruled......Page 116 Introduction: Passages from the Principate to Late Antiquity......Page 118 Standing in Line......Page 125 Purchasing Power......Page 149 Autocracy and Bureaucracy......Page 197 Epilogue: Last Judgments......Page 243 Notes......Page 258 Bibliography......Page 312 Index......Page 338 Belknap Press of Harvard University Press Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Prologue: First Thoughts 12 Part I . The Bureaucrat’s Tale 20 Introduction: John Lydus: A Man and His Book 22 All the Prefect’s Men 29 The Competition for Spoils 75 Part I I . Ruler s and Ruled 116 Introduction: Passages from the Principate to Late Antiquity 118 Standing in Line 125 Purchasing Power 149 Autocracy and Bureaucracy 197 Epilogue: Last Judgments 243 Notes 258 Bibliography 312 Index 338 9780674015647