The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and CultureDuring the first, stable period of the Principate (roughly from 27 BC to AD 235), when the empire reached its maximum extent, Roman society and culture were radically transformed. But how was the vast territory of the empire controlled? Did the demands of central government stimulate economic growth, or endanger survival? What forces of cohesion operated to balance the social and economic inequalities and high mortality rates? Why did Roman governments freeze the official religion while allowing the diffusion of alien, especially oriental, cults? Are we to see in their attitude to Christianity a policy of toleration—or simply confusion and a failure of nerve? These are some of the many questions posed in this book, which offers the first overall account of the society, economy and culture of the Roman empire. Addressed to non-specialist readers no less than to scholars, it breaks with the traditional historian's preoccupation with narrative and politics. As an integrated study of the life and outlook of the ordinary inhabitants of the Roman world, it deepens our understanding of the underlying factors in this important formative period of world history. |
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The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture Peter Garnsey,Richard P. Saller No preview available - 1987 |
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A.H.M. Jones administration agriculture ancient Apuleius areas aristocratic army Augustan Augustus Aurelius authority Brunt Caesar Campania Cassius Dio Christianity Cicero Claudius Columella cult culture distribution Duncan-Jones early economic Egypt elite emperor equestrian estates evidence farms father favour Finley freedmen Gallic Garnsey Gaul governor grain Greek Hadrian honour Hopkins household husband Iberian peninsula imperial imperial cult inscriptions Italian Italy labour land landowners late Republic Latin Ligures Baebiani limited literary marriage Mediterranean military Millar million modii north Africa officials patrons peasant period Pliny Pliny's political population prefect Principate production provinces rank region reign relationships religion religious Roman empire Rome Rome's rural Saller second century senatorial senators Seneca Septimius Severus sesterces Severan slaves social society soldiers sources status Strabo subsistence Suetonius supply Tacitus third century tonnes traditional Trajan urban Veleia wealth wheat wife wine