Jean-Louis Voisin is Senior Lecturer at the University of Bourgogne.

Yann Le Bohec is Professor at the University of Lyon III.

David Cherry is Professor of History at Montana State University, Bozeman.

Donald G. Kyle is Professor of History at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Eleni Manolaraki is Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of South Florida.

List of Plates ix

List of Figures and Maps xii

List of Chronologies, Genealogies, and Boxes xiv

Preface to the Fourth Edition xvi

Preface to the Third Edition xvii

Preface to the Second Edition xviii

Preface to the First Edition xix

List of Abbreviations xxi

Introduction xxii

The Sources for Roman History xxii

Rome and the Mediterranean xxv

The Origins of the "Roman Miracle" xxvii

Part I: From the Origins to the Empire 1

1 Italy before Rome 3

1.1 The Peoples of Prehistoric Italy 5

1.2 The Cultures of Prehistoric Italy 7

1.3 The East's Influence on the West 14

2 The Formation of Rome: From Romulus to the Tarquins 19

2.1 Latin and Sabine Kings 21

2.2 Etruscan Rome 26

2.3 The Religion of Archaic Rome 33

3 The Young Republic: The Fifth and Fourth Centuries BCE 41

3.1 The Birth of the Republic and the Struggle of the Orders 43

3.2 The Decemvirs and their Task 46

3.3 In Search of Equilibrium: 449-312 bce 49

3.4 The Republic's Institutions at the End of the Fourth Century 56

vi Contents

4 The Growth of the Republic: War and Conquest in the Third Century BCE 61

4.1 Economy, Society, Army 63

4.2 The Conquest of Central and Southern Italy 66

4.3 The Hellenization of Art and Religion 68

4.4 The Punic Wars 73

4.5 Gladiatorial Combat: Rise and Early Development 82

5 Consequences of Conquest: The Second Century BCE 89

5.1 What Was Roman Imperialism? 91

5.2 Conquests from 200 to 148 bce: Defensive Imperialism 93

5.3 Conquests from 148 to 133 bce: Conscious Imperialism 95

5.4 War and Conquest: 133-96 bce 100

5.5 Roman Triumphs: Spectacles of Military Victory 103

5.6 The Economic, Social, and Political Consequences of the Conquests 107

5.7 Cultural Consequences 115

6 The Late Republic: The First Century BCE 121

6.1 Personal Ambitions and the Civil Wars 123

6.2 Toward a New Order 159

6.3 Social and Cultural Transformations 169

Part II: Rome, Master of the World 185

7 The Roman World in 31-28 BCE 187

7.1 Actium and its Aftermath 189

7.2 Rome and Italy 194

7.3 The Provinces 197

7.4 Boundaries and Frontiers 203

8 Augustus: The Birth of the Imperial Regime: 29 BCE-14 CE 207

8.1 The Formation of the Principate 209

8.2 The Emperor and his Entourage 218

8.3 A Hierarchy of Offices 224

8.4 The Army and its Conquests 230

8.5 The Administration of the Empire 237

8.6 Augustus: Showman and Gamesmaster of Rome 243

8.7 Religious Policy 249

8.8 The Succession 254

9 The Julio-Claudians: The System Under Stress: 14-68 CE 257

9.1 Four Personalities: Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, Nero 259

9.2 The Institutions and Innovations of the Julio-Claudians 271

9.3 Development of the Administration 285

10 The Flavians: Consolidating the Imperial Order: 68-96 CE 289

10.1 Events and Contenders 291

10.2 Interpretations 293

10.3 The Flavian Dynasty 294

10.4 Domitian and Tyranny: 81-96 ce 305

10.5 A Developing Municipal Life and a Changing Society 311

10.6 Social Changes 315

11 The Antonine Empire: 96-192 CE 319

11.1 Italo-Provincial Emperors 321

11.2 Italy in Decline, the Provinces Expanding 350

11.3 Romanization 364

11.4 A Mediterranean Economy 366

11.5 The Army 373

11.6 Spectacles and the Roman Empire 382

11.7 Religious Life 394

12 The African and Syrian Emperors: 193-235 CE 405

12.1 The Crisis of 193-197 ce 407

12.2 Septimius Severus and his Sons 408

12.3 Macrinus, Elagabalus, Severus Alexander 426

12.4 Provincial Upsurge and the Orientalization of the Empire? 431

Part III: Another Roman World: Third to Fifth Century CE 437

Introduction to Part III: The Nature of the Times 438

13 Equilibrium: 235 CE 439

13.1 A Fragile Balance 441

13.2 Rome and Italy 443

13.3 The Western Provinces 446

13.4 The Eastern Provinces 449

13.5 Beyond the Limes 452

13.6 Balance and Instability 454

14 A Disintegrating Order: 235-284 CE 457

14.1 Sinking into Crisis: 235-260 ce 459

14.2 The Nature and Limits of the Crisis 462

14.3 The Reaction of the Imperial Government: 260-284 ce 467

15 A Different Order: 284-361 CE 471

15.1 Diocletian and the Tetrarchy: 284-305 ce 473

15.2 Constantine: 306-337 ce 477

15.3 Constantine's Sons: 337-361 ce 481

15.4 Three Emperors and their Achievements 484

16 Different Institutions: Reorganization 485

16.1 Central Government 487

16.2 The Army 491

16.3 Territorial Authorities 496

16.4 Cities and Municipal Life 498

16.5 An Absolute Monarchy 502

17 A Different Socio-Economic World: Recovery and State Control 503

17.1 The Economic Recovery 505

17.2 Society and the State 509

17.3 Towns and Villas 517

17.4 Expansion and Lifestyles 521

18 Between Paganism and Christianity 523

18.1 The Fourth-Century ce Renaissance 525

18.2 Paganism on the Defensive 526

18.3 Judaism between the Empire and the Church 533

18.4 Christianity Takes the Offensive 535

18.5 Boom and Decline 543

19 The End of the Roman World? 545

19.1 Julian: 361-363 ce 547

19.2 A New Crisis: 364-395 ce 550

19.3 The End of Rome? 554

Chronological Table 559

Glossary 578

Guide to Greek and Roman Writers 584

Guide to Further Reading 595

Index 617