Companion to the Roman Empire

David Potter is Professor of Greek and Latin at the University of Michigan. He has published extensively on the history of the Roman world and appeared on many television programmes concerned with the history of Rome. His most recent publications include Life, Death and Entertainment in the Roman Empire (co-edited with David J. Mattingly, 1999), Literary Texts and the Roman Historian (1999) and The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180-395(2004)

“The essays are well written and are as accessible to undergraduate students as they are to advanced researchers who want to read more about the ways in which recent and innovative approaches in the discipline have transformed the study of Roman civilization and the field of ancient history. This book is a timely and relevant contribution to the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series.” (Classical Review, 2007) "Another admirable edition to Blackwell's large expanding series of Companions, it is of comparable length, but with just 30 contributors and 30 chapters … it gives each other more depth and breadth." (Ancient East and West, 2008)"For those with reservations about the 'companion' phenomenon, [this volume] is an excellent advertisement for the benefits of such an exercise.... This volume is almost uniformly good as a guide to central topics in Roman history from the first to the forth century, with a number of outstanding discussions," (The Classical Review, 2008)"A very impressive collection indeed, summarising and building on the latest scholarship, especially the view that there is more to history than politics and the powerful." (Journal of Classics Teaching)"Scholar, student, and interested layperson will all find much to ponder here, and the editor, publisher, and contributors are to be commended for the success of their undertaking. This Companion, at least, constitutes a welcome addition to the field, offers a clear statement of the current state of the discipline, and provides inspiration for future directions" (New England Classical Journal)"This Companion to the Roman Empire provides a fascinating and scholarly insight into our ancient past. It is an ideal reference tool for students and scholars alike, presenting new methods and modes of study that should provoke thought among the readership. It also brings together many disciplines of study that allow scholars to study an Empire as vast and influential as that created by the Romans." (Reference Reviews)"The thirty chapters in this latest title in Blackwell's excellent "Companions to the Ancient World" series are written by such experts in their fields as Maud Gleason, Judith Evans Grubbs, Amy Richlin and Ann Hanson ... No comparable handbook exists ... Essential. All levels/libraries." (Choice—A Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2007)"This elegantly and carefully edited book is a resounding success." (Scholia Reviews)"David Potter has assembled an impressive array of scholars whose essays in this volume provide overviews and summarize the current state of scholarship on a variety of topics. A Companion to the Roman Empire succeeds in meeting the needs of its diverse audience and also offers a few surprises." (Bryn Mawr Classical Review)

• List of Illustrations xList of Tables xiiiNotes on Contributors xivAcknowledgments xviReference works: Abbreviations xviiAncient authors: Abbreviations and Glossary xxThe Emperors of Rome from Augustus to Constantine xxixIntroduction: The Shape of Roman History: The Fate of the Governing Class 1David S. PotterPART I THE SOURCES 211 Constructing a Narrative 23Cynthia Damon2 Roman Imperial Numismatics 35William E. Metcalf3 Documents 45Traianos Gagos and David S. Potter4 Art, Architecture, and Archaeology in the Roman Empire 75Lea Stirling5 Interdisciplinary Approaches 98James B. RivesPART II NARRATIVE 1136 The Emergence of Monarchy: 44 BCE–96 CE 115Greg Rowe7 Rome the Superpower: 96–235 CE 126Michael Peachin8 The Transformation of the Empire: 235–337 CE 153David S. PotterPART III ADMINISTRATION 1759 The Administration of the Provinces 177Clifford Ando10 The Transformation of Government under Diocletian and Constantine 193Hugh Elton11 The Roman Army 206Nigel Pollard12 Greek Cities Under Roman Rule 228Maud W. Gleason13 Cities and Urban Life in the Western Provinces of the Roman Empire 30 BCE–250 CE 250Jonathan EdmondsonPART IV SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE 28114 The Imperial Economy 283David Mattingly15 Landlords and Tenants 298Dennis P. Kehoe16 The Family 312Judith Evans Grubbs17 Sexuality in the Roman Empire 327Amy Richlin18 On Food and the Body 354Veronika E. Grimm19 Leisure 369Garrett G. Fagan20 Spectacle 385David S. PotterPART V INTELLECTUAL LIFE 40921 The Construction of the Past in the Roman Empire 411Rowland Smith22 Imperial Poetry 439K. Sara Myers23 Greek Fiction 453Joseph L. Rife24 Roman Law and Roman History 477John Matthews25 Roman Medicine 492Ann Hanson26 Philosophy in the Roman Empire 524Sara Ahbel-RappePART VI RELIGION 54127 Traditional Cult 543David Frankfurter28 Jews and Judaism 70–429 CE 565Yaron Z. Eliav29 Christians in the Roman Empire in the First Three Centuries CE 587Paula Fredriksen30 Christian Thought 607Mark EdwardsBibliography 620Index 681