The Commerce of War : Exchange and Social Order in Latin Epic

Latin epics such as Virgil’s __Aeneid__, Lucan’s __Civil War__, and Statius’s __Thebaid__ addressed Roman aristocrats whose dealings in gifts, favors, and payments defined their conceptions of social order. In __The Commerce of War__, Neil Coffee argues that these exchanges play a central yet overlooked role in epic depictions of Roman society. Tracing the collapse of an aristocratic worldview across all three poems, Coffee highlights the distinction they draw between reciprocal gift giving among elites and the more problematic behaviors of buying and selling. In the __Aeneid__, customary gift and favor exchanges are undermined by characters who view human interaction as short-term and commodity-driven. The __Civil War__ takes the next logical step, illuminating how Romans cope once commercial greed has supplanted traditional values. Concluding with the __Thebaid__, which focuses on the problems of excessive consumption rather than exchange, Coffee closes his powerful case that these poems constitute far-reaching critiques of Roman society during its transition from republic to empire.

latin Epics Such As Virgil’s aeneid, Lucan’s civil War, And Statius’s thebaid addressed Roman Aristocrats Whose Dealings In Gifts, Favors, And Payments Defined Their Conceptions Of Social Order. In the Commerce Of War, Neil Coffee Argues That These Exchanges Play A Central Yet Overlooked Role In Epic Depictions Of Roman Society.

            Tracing The Collapse Of An Aristocratic Worldview Across All Three Poems, Coffee Highlights The Distinction They Draw Between Reciprocal Gift Giving Among Elites And The More Problematic Behaviors Of Buying And Selling. In The aeneid, Customary Gift And Favor Exchanges Are Undermined By Characters Who View Human Interaction As Short-term And Commodity-driven. The civil War Takes The Next Logical Step, Illuminating How Romans Cope Once Commercial Greed Has Supplanted Traditional Values. Concluding With The thebaid, Which Focuses On The Problems Of Excessive Consumption Rather Than Exchange, Coffee Closes His Powerful Case That These Poems Constitute Far-reaching Critiques Of Roman Society During Its Transition From Republic To Empire.

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coffee's Compelling Book Contributes Much To Contemporary Debate On Roamn Epic, Particularly The aeneid.

Latin epics such as Virgil's Aeneid , Lucan's Civil War , and Statius' Thebaid addressed Roman aristocrats whose dealings in gifts, favors, and payments defined their conceptions of social order. This book argues that these exchanges play a central yet overlooked role in epic depictions of Roman society. Tracing the collapse of an aristocratic worldview across all three poems, it highlights the distinction they draw between reciprocal gift giving among elites and the more problematic behaviors of buying and selling. In the Aeneid , customary gift and favor exchanges are undermined by characters who view human interaction as short-term and commodity-driven. The Civil War takes the next logical step, illuminating how Romans cope once commercial greed has supplanted traditional values. Concluding with the Thebaid , which focuses on the problems of excessive consumption rather than exchange, the book closes its case that these poems constitute far-reaching critiques of Roman society during its transition from republic to empire University Of Chicago Press Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 List of Abbreviations 12 Introduction 14 Part One: Reciprocity in Crisis: Vergil’s Aeneid 50 1. Roman Heroic Reciprocity 52 2. Juno’s Agents and the Negotiations of Aeneas 80 Part Two: The Triumph of Venality: Lucan’s Civil War 128 3. Reciprocity Exposed 130 4. Caesar, Pompey, and Cato 148 Part Three: Conspicuous Consumption: Statius’s Thebaid 196 5. Exchange Eclipsed 198 6. Eteocles, Polynices, and Creon 254 Conclusions 285 Bibliography 288 Subject Index 304 Index of Cited Passages 310 ISBN-13:,9780226111872 Latin epics such as Virgil's 'Aeneid' and Statius's 'Thebaid' addressed Roman aristocrats whose dealings in gifts, favours and payments defined their conceptions of social order. Here Neil Coffee argues that these exchanges play a central yet overlooked role in epic depictions of Roman society.