Imperial Rome AD 284 to 363 - (Edinburgh History of Ancient Rome) by Jill Harries (Paperback)

About the Book

This book is about the reinvention of the Roman Empire during the eighty years between the accession of Diocletian and the death of Julian.

Book Synopsis

A distinct perspective on the momentous religious change in the regionDiocletian (284-305) and his principal successor, Constantine (306-337), would rule the Roman world for over half a century and Constantine's sons would build on their legacy. Administrative reform encouraged the rise of a bureaucratic culture, provincial government was reshaped and became more hierarchical and the court became more structured. The period was also one of momentous religious change. With Constantine's adoption of Christianity as the favoured recipient of imperial patronage, the religious landscape would, over time, be radically reshaped.Jill Harries combines the administrative reform and religious change with accounts of war, women and imperial cities to offer a new and revealing view of the region.
Key features:
Focuses on the Emperor Constantine as a major figure and offers a context to his achievementAddresses the role of imperial women, often ignored for this periodStudies the control of empires and how rulers fashion their claims to legitimacyKeywords: Roman history; Late Antiquity; Later Roman Empire; History of Christianity; Diocletian; Constantine; Emperor Julian.

From the Back Cover

AUTHOR APPROVED

This elegant and exciting book offers a fresh approach to understanding 'early' late Antiquity. The breadth of vision is impressive. Jill Harries' triumph is to place Constantine and his promotion of Christianity in the context of a fully-rounded history of the Roman Empire from Diocletian to Julian.

Christopher Kelly, University of Cambridge

The Edinburgh History of Ancient Rome is a chronological history of Rome and the Roman world in eight volumes. From the city's first settlement to the collapse of the western empire and the emergence of Byzantium some 1,500 years later, each volume encapsulates the ever-changing identity of Rome, providing overall unity to its dramatic history.

Series Editor: J. S. Richardson

A distinct perspective on the dawn of Late Antiquity

Diocletian (284-305) and his principal successor, Constantine (306-337), would rule the Roman world for over half a century and Constantine's sons would build on their legacy. Administrative reform encouraged the rise of a bureaucratic culture, provincial government was reshaped and became more hierarchical and the court became more structured. The period was also one of momentous religious change. With Constantine's adoption of Christianity as the favoured recipient of imperial patronage, the religious landscape would, over time, be radically reshaped.

Jill Harries combines analysis of administrative reform and religious change with accounts of war, women and imperial cities to offer new insights on Late Rome and her empire.

Key features

• Focuses on the Emperor Constantine as a major figure and offers a context to his achievement
• Addresses the role of imperial women, often ignored for this period
• Studies the control of empires and how rulers fashion their claims to legitimacy

Jill Harries is Professor of Ancient History at the University of St Andrews.

Review Quotes

This elegant and exciting book offers a fresh approach to understanding "early" late Antiquity. The breadth of vision is impressive. Jill Harries' triumph is to place Constantine and his promotion of Christianity in the context of a fully-rounded history of the Roman Empire from Diocletian to Julian.--Dr Christopher Kelly, University of Cambridge

Harries' impressive work highlights the benefits of assessing imperial religious policy not as a unique field of enquiry, but within a holistic view of the emperor's relationship with his empire.--Richard Flower, University of Sheffield "The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies"

About the Author

Jill Harries is Professor of Ancient History and head of school at the University of St Andrews. Her books include Sidonius Apollinaris and the Fall of Rome (Oxford University Press, 1994) and Law and Empire in Late Antiquity (Cambridge University Press 1999, paperback 2001).