Provinces of the Roman Empire by Theodor Mommsen

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Although we tend to view the history of the Roman Empire as the history of Rome itself, the author argues that the true destiny and drama of the Roman ideal was enacted in the provinces, rippling out from the city through Italy and into the whole Mediterranean world. Roman ideals of civilization were realized through conquest and expansion, creating a two-way street in which Roman law and custom were tempered and changed by outside contact. Describing the widening sphere of Roman influence, Mommsen first examines the acquisiton and control of Gaul, Spain, Britain, and the lands along the Danube, as well as Greece and Asia Minor; then he discusses Rome's more difficult domination of the present-day Middle East, North Africa, and the frontiers along the Euphrates. He reminds us that great poets and philosophers, as well as several Roman emperors, came from the provinces, demonstrating that the glory of Empire played itself out well beyond the borders of the city.

From the Publisher

Among the histories of the Roman Empire, that of Mommsen stands out for its attention to detail and the thoroughness with which it covers the field. Rarely has a historian been able to cover such a span of time with such skill. Originally part of a multi-volume history of the Roman Empire in its totality, this segment deals specifically with the period from Julius Caesar to Diocletian, and more precisely, with the provinces of the Empire during that period. Beginning with the northern provinces of Italy, Mommsen moves the exploration into Spain and the Gallic provinces. The place of Rome in Germany and the free Germans, not subjugated by the Empire are considered, along with the exploits of the Empire in Britain. Mommsen considers the wars of Rome with the Danubian tribes and the incursion of the Empire into Greece and Asia Minor. For the scholar interested in how the Roman Empire was perceived in the best of early twentieth century research, this volume is a gem.

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Table of Contents