The Limits of Empire: The Roman Army in the East (Clarendon Paperbacks)

For more than seven centuries most of the Near East was part of the Roman empire. Yet no work exists which explores the means by which an ancient power originating in the western Mediterranean could control such a vast and distant region. What was the impact of the army presence on the population of the provinces? How did Rome respond to the challenge posed by the desert and its nomadic population? Isaac here offers answers to these questions in the first comprehensive treatment of the Roman military presence in the Near East. Using both well-known and neglected sources, he reassesses the means by which Rome achieved and maintained its control over the region. His study, now revised and updated to reflect recent research findings, casts new light on an important issue which has far-reaching implications for the understanding of ancient and modern imperialism. THE LIMITS OF EMPIRE. The Roman Army in the East (REVISED EDITION)......Page 4 PREFACE......Page 7 REVISED EDITION......Page 9 CONTENTS......Page 10 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......Page 11 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 15 INTRODUCTION......Page 16 Interpretation of Archaeological Evidence......Page 21 Talmudic Sources......Page 22 Geographical Outline......Page 24 Historical Outline......Page 29 I. ROME AND PERSIA......Page 34 The Roman Assessment of the Relationship......Page 35 Rome's Persian Wars......Page 43 The Distribution of Troops......Page 48 Syria and Cappadocia......Page 49 The Annexation of Commagene......Page 54 The North-East......Page 57 Conclusions......Page 65 II. CONSOLIDATION AND INTERNAL UNREST......Page 69 CONSOLIDATION......Page 71 Lehanon......Page 75 Trachonitis......Page 77 Judaea......Page 81 Conclusions......Page 82 Nomad Trihes Not a Source of Trouhle hefore the Fourth Century......Page 83 Banditry in Judaea......Page 92 Palaestina in the Byzantine Period......Page 104 Banditry in Syria......Page 112 CONCLUSIONS......Page 114 III. THE ARMY OF THE PRINCIPATE: AN ARMY OF OCCUPATION......Page 116 Securiry of Communications......Page 117 Archaeological and Epigraphic Evidence......Page 119 The Road-System......Page 122 A Comparison: Road-Security in the Ottoman Period......Page 128 Talmudic Sources......Page 130 Arabia......Page 133 Southern Syria......Page 149 PALMYRA, DURA-EUROPOS, AND THE SYRIAN DESERT......Page 155 Palmyra......Page 156 Mesopotamia......Page 162 Hatra......Page 167 CONCLUSIONS......Page 171 The Nature of the Evidence......Page 176 The Reforms of Diocletian and Constantine......Page 177 Roads and Military Installations......Page 178 The Function of the Smaller Installations......Page 187 The Siting and Function of Fourth-Century Forts (Palaestina)......Page 201 The Function of Roman Installations: Further Arguments......Page 213 The Limitanei......Page 223 The Army in the Desert: Considerations......Page 228 V. ENEMIES AND ALLIES AFTER SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS......Page 234 Palmyrene Independence......Page 235 The North-East......Page 244 Nomad Allies......Page 250 Mesopotamia......Page 264 The Fortified Cities......Page 267 Byzantium and Persia......Page 275 The Last Years......Page 279 Conclusion......Page 280 THE ARMY IN CITIES......Page 284 Antioch......Page 285 Alexandria......Page 292 Jerusalem......Page 294 Conclusion......Page 296 TAXATION AND'THE ROMAN ARMY......Page 297 Annona Militaris......Page 300 Angaria......Page 306 Akhsaniah (hospitium)......Page 312 PROPAGANDA......Page 319 CONCLUSION......Page 324 General Characteristics......Page 326 The Colonies in the East......Page 333 Southern Asia Minor......Page 336 Local Militias......Page 340 Herodian Settlements......Page 342 Conclusions......Page 346 VIII. URBANIZATION......Page 348 Gabinius......Page 351 Herod and his Dynasty......Page 355 Berytus and Heliopolis......Page 357 The Flavian Period......Page 359 Trajan: Arabia......Page 364 Hadrian......Page 367 Septimius Severus......Page 374 Philip the Arab and Philippopolis......Page 376 The Fourth Century......Page 379 The Byzantine Period......Page 380 Conclusion......Page 384 IX. FRONTIER POLICY -- GRAND STRATEGY?......Page 387 Decision-Making and War Aims......Page 392 The Choice of Frontier Lines......Page 402 Peoples and Territory......Page 409 GeographicaL Concepts and Intelligence......Page 416 The Functions of Frontier Lines......Page 423 Conclusions......Page 431 EPILOGUE......Page 434 APPENDIX I: ROMAN ARMY SITES IN JUDAEA......Page 442 APPENDIX II: ANTIOCH AS MILITARY HEADQUARTERS AND IMPERIAL RESIDENCE......Page 451 POSTSCRIPT......Page 454 BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS......Page 466 ARTICLES......Page 481 MAPS......Page 505 BOOKS......Page 506 ARTICLES......Page 507 INDEX......Page 512 MAPS......Page 526 For More Than Seven Centuries Most Of The Near East Was Part Of The Roman Empire. This Was The Area Of Confrontation With Persia. Yet No Work Exists Which Explores The Means By Which An Ancient Power Originating In The Western Mediterranean Could Control Such A Vast And Distant Region. What Were The Roman Political And Military Aims In The Region From The Caucasus To Sinai? What Was The Impact Of The Army Presence On The Population Of The Provinces? How Did Rome Respond To The Challenge Posed By The Desert And Its Nomadic Population? Professor Isaac Here Offers Answers To These Questions In The First Comprehensive Treatment Of The Roman Military Presence In The Near East. Using Both Well-known And Neglected Sources, And Archaeological Material, He Reassesses The Means By Which Rome Achieved And Maintained Her Control Over The Region. He Discusses The Extent To Which Current Vacillating Views On Imperialism Can Affect Opinions Concerning The Character And Mechanisms By Which Rome Ensured The Integrity And Expansion Of Her Influence. Also Considered Here Are Problems Of Methodology, Especially The Use Of Archaeological Remains For Historical Interpretation. In This Study, Professor Isaac Casts New Light On An Important Issue Which Has Far-reaching Implications For The Understanding Of Ancient And Modern Imperialism. The Book Won The Best Book Award For 1991 From The American Military Institute. I. Rome And Persia -- Ii. Consolidation And Internal Unrest -- Iii. The Army Of The Principate: An Army Of Occupation -- Iv. The Army Of The Fourth Century -- V. Enemies And Allies After Septimius Severus -- Vi. Army And Civilians In The East -- Vii. The Military Function Of Roman Veteran Colonies -- Viii. Urbanization -- Ix. Frontier Policy -- Grand Strategy? -- Appendix I. Roman Army Sites In Judaea -- Appendix Ii. Antioch As Military Headquarters And Imperial Residence. By Benjamin Isaac. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [451]-495) And Index. This is the first comprehensive treatment of the Roman military presence in the Near East. Using both well-known and neglected sources, Professor Isaac reassesses the means by which Rome achieved and maintained her contorl over the region. He discusses the extent to which current vacillating views on imperialism can affect opinions concerning the character and mechanisms by which Rome ensured the integrity and expansion of her influence. Also considered here are problems of methodology, especially the use of archaelogical remains for historical interpretation. Now available in paperback, this revised edition contains extensive author's ammendments in the light of the most recent research, so that the book is now representative of the most up-to-date work on the subject. There is an additional bibliography, containing material only recently made available, and a new preface introducing the volume This revised edition of a history of the exploits of the Roman Army contains extensive amendments in the light of recent archaeological research. Included in the work is a bibliography containing material only recently made available.