The Roman Empire: Roots of Imperialism - Softcover

Morley, Neville

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0745328695 ISBN 13: 9780745328690

Publisher: Pluto Press, 2010

Synopsis

A millennium and a half after the end of the period of its unquestioned dominance, Rome remains a significant presence in western culture. This book explores what the empire meant to its subjects.

The idea of Rome has long outlived the physical empire that gave it form, and now holds sway over vastly more people and a far greater geographical area than the Romans ever ruled. It continues to shape our understanding of the nature of imperialism, and thus, however subtly, to influence the workings of the world. Unlike most works on Roman history, this book does not offer a simplistic narrative, with military triumph followed by decline and fall. Instead, it analyses the origins and nature of Roman imperialism, its economic, social and cultural impact on the regions it conquered, and its continuing influence in discussions and debates about modern imperialism.

About this title

About the Author:

Neville Morley is Professor of Ancient Economic History & Historical Theory at the University of Bristol. His previous books include Theories, Models and Concepts in Ancient History (2004), Trade in Classical Antiquity (2007) and Antiquity and Modernity (2008).

Review:

""'Not just an acute analysis of the development of one of the most influential of all the world's historical empires, but also a mature reflection on the power and pitfalls of self-justification through appeal to an imagined past'"" - Professor Paul A. Cartledge, A.G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, Faculty of Classics, Clare College, Cambridge ""'A well-written, eminently readable discussion of Roman expansion in the Mediterranean'"" - CHOICE ""'How do empires grow, how are they ruled, do they exploit their subjects or civilize them? Morley's book weaves together modern theories of imperialism with the story of Europe's first, and greatest, empire'"" - Gregory Woolf, Professor of Ancient History, St. Andrews University ""'A thoughtful and clever re-assessment of Roman imperial achievement. Morley provocatively challenges conventional views on the dynamics of empire. This book should be read by those interested in ancient history and by those who watch for the rise and fall of superstates in the twenty-first century'"" - Christopher Kelly, Cambridge University

About this edition

• Publisher: Pluto Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0745328695
• ISBN 13: 9780745328690
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176