The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180–395 (The Routledge History of the Ancient World)

A striking achievement of historical synthesis combined with a compelling interpretative line, The Roman Empire at Bay enables students of all periods to understand the dynamics of great imperial powers. David Potter's comprehensive survey of two critical and eventful centuries traces the course of imperial decline, skillfully weaving together cultural, intellectual and political history. Particular attention is paid throughout to the structures of government, the rise of Persia as a rival, and the diverse intellectual movements in the empire. There is also a strong focus on Christianity, transformed in this period from a fringe sect to the leading religion. Against this detailed background, Professor Potter argues that the loss of power can mainly be attributed to the failure in the imperial elite to respond to changes inside and outside the empire, and to internal struggles for control between different elements in the government, resulting in an inefficient centralization of power at court. "The Roman Empire at Bay is the only one volume history of the critical years 180-395 AD, which saw the transformation of the Roman Empire from a unitary state centred on Rome, into a new polity with two capitals and a new religion, Christianity. The book integrates social and intellectual history into the narrative, looking to explore the relationship between contingent events and deeper structure. It also covers an amazingly dramatic narrative from the civil wars after the death of Commodus through the conversion of Constantine to the arrival of the Goths in the Roman Empire, setting in motion the final collapse of the western empire.The new edition takes account of important new scholarship in questions of Roman identity, on economy and society as well as work on the age of Constantine, which has advanced significantly in the last decade, while recent archaeological and art historical work is more fully drawn into the narrative than it was in the past. At its core, the central question that drives The Roman Empire at Bay remains, what did it mean to be a Roman and how did that meaning change as the empire changed? Updated for a new generation of students, this book remains a crucial tool in the study of this period"-- "The Roman Empire at Bay is the only one volume history of the critical years 180-395 AD, which saw the transformation of the Roman Empire from a unitary state centred on Rome, into a new polity with two capitals and a new religion, Christianity"-- At The Outset Of The Period Covered By This Book, Rome Was The Greatest Power In The World. By Its End, It Had Fallen Conclusively From This Dominant Position. David Potter's Comprehensive Survey Of Two Critical And Eventful Centuries Traces The Course Of Imperial Decline. Section 1: The Shape Of The Roman Empire. -- Chapter 1: Culture, Ecology And Power. -- Chapter 2: Government -- Section 2: Reshaping The Old Order -- Chapter 3: The Workings Of Power -- Chapter 4: The Army In Politics; Lawyers In Government -- Chapter 5: Authorizing Discourse: Intellectual Trends In The Early Third Century. -- Section 3: The Roman Empire And Its Neighbors. -- Chapter 6: The Failure Of The Severan Empire. -- Chapter 7: The Emergence Of A New Order. -- Section 4: The Constantinian Empire. -- Chapter 8: Alternative Narratives. -- Chapter 9: Rewritings Of The Tetrarchy. -- Chapter 10: Restructuring The State. -- Chapter 11: Constructing Christianity In An Imperial. -- Section 5: Losing Power. -- Chapter 12: Church And State. -- Chapter 13: The Struggle For Control. -- Chapter 14: The End Of Hegemony. David S. Potter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 715-751) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Illustrations......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 17 The shape of the Roman Empire......Page 24 Culture, ecology and power......Page 26 Government......Page 61 Reshaping the old order......Page 106 Crises in government......Page 108 The army in politics; lawyers in government......Page 148 Intellectual trends in the early third century......Page 196 The Roman Empire and its neighbors: 225 99......Page 238 The failure of the Severan empire......Page 240 The emergence of a new order......Page 286 The Constantinian empire......Page 322 Alternative narratives: Manichaeans, Christians, and Neoplatonists......Page 324 Rewritings of the Tetrarchy: 300 13......Page 356 Restructuring the state: 313 37......Page 387 Constructing Christianity in an imperial context......Page 424 Losing power......Page 464 Church and state: 337 55......Page 466 The struggle for control: 355 66......Page 508 The end of hegemony: 367 95......Page 549 Conclusion: change in the Roman Empire......Page 599 Notes......Page 605 Bibliography......Page 738 Index......Page 775 David S. Potter's comprehensive survey of two critical and eventful centuries traces the course of imperial decline, skillfully weaving together cultural, intellectual and political history. Particular attention is paid throughout to the structures of government, the rise of Persia as a rival, and the diverse intellectual movements in the empire. There is also a strong focus on Christianity, transformed in this period from a fringe sect to the leading religion. Against this detailed background, Potter argues that the loss of power can mainly be attributed to the failure in the imperial elite to respond to changes inside and outside the empire, and to internal struggles for control between different elements in the government, resulting in an inefficient centralization of power at court. A striking achievement of historical synthesis combined with a compelling interpretative line, The Roman Empire at Bay enables students of all periods to understand the dynamics of great imperial powers. Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Illustrations 10 Preface 12 Abbreviations 17 The shape of the Roman Empire 24 Culture, ecology and power 26 Government 61 Reshaping the old order 106 Crises in government 108 The army in politics; lawyers in government 148 Intellectual trends in the early third century 196 The Roman Empire and its neighbors: 225 99 238 The failure of the Severan empire 240 The emergence of a new order 286 The Constantinian empire 322 Alternative narratives: Manichaeans, Christians, and Neoplatonists 324 Rewritings of the Tetrarchy: 300 13 356 Restructuring the state: 313 37 387 Constructing Christianity in an imperial context 424 Losing power 464 Church and state: 337 55 466 The struggle for control: 355 66 508 The end of hegemony: 367 95 549 Conclusion: change in the Roman Empire 599 Notes 605 Bibliography 738 Index 775 David Potter's comprehensive survey of two critical and eventful centuries travels the course of imperial decline, skilfully weaving together cultural, intellectual and political history