A Companion to the Roman Empire provides readers with a guide both to Roman imperial history and to the field of Roman studies, taking account of the most recent discoveries. Provides a guide both to Roman imperial history and to the field of Roman studies. Takes account of recent discoveries.

List of Illustrations x List of Tables xiii Notes on Contributors xiv Acknowledgments xvi Reference works: Abbreviations xvii Ancient authors: Abbreviations and Glossary xx The Emperors of Rome from Augustus to Constantine xxix Introduction: The Shape of Roman History: The Fate of the Governing Class 1David S. Potter PART I THE SOURCES 21 1 Constructing a Narrative 23Cynthia Damon 2 Roman Imperial Numismatics 35William E. Metcalf 3 Documents 45Traianos Gagos and David S. Potter 4 Art, Architecture, and Archaeology in the Roman Empire 75Lea Stirling 5 Interdisciplinary Approaches 98James B. Rives PART II NARRATIVE 113 6 The Emergence of Monarchy: 44 BCE–96 CE 115Greg Rowe 7 Rome the Superpower: 96–235 CE 126Michael Peachin 8 The Transformation of the Empire: 235–337 CE 153David S. Potter PART III ADMINISTRATION 175 9 The Administration of the Provinces 177Clifford Ando 10 The Transformation of Government under Diocletian and Constantine 193Hugh Elton 11 The Roman Army 206Nigel Pollard 12 Greek Cities Under Roman Rule 228Maud W. Gleason 13 Cities and Urban Life in the Western Provinces of the Roman Empire 30 BCE–250 CE 250Jonathan Edmondson PART IV SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE 281 14 The Imperial Economy 283David Mattingly 15 Landlords and Tenants 298Dennis P. Kehoe 16 The Family 312Judith Evans Grubbs 17 Sexuality in the Roman Empire 327Amy Richlin 18 On Food and the Body 354Veronika E. Grimm 19 Leisure 369Garrett G. Fagan 20 Spectacle 385David S. Potter PART V INTELLECTUAL LIFE 409 21 The Construction of the Past in the Roman Empire 411Rowland Smith 22 Imperial Poetry 439K. Sara Myers 23 Greek Fiction 453Joseph L. Rife 24 Roman Law and Roman History 477John Matthews 25 Roman Medicine 492Ann Hanson 26 Philosophy in the Roman Empire 524Sara Ahbel-Rappe PART VI RELIGION 541 27 Traditional Cult 543David Frankfurter 28 Jews and Judaism 70–429 CE 565Yaron Z. Eliav 29 Christians in the Roman Empire in the First Three Centuries CE 587Paula Fredriksen 30 Christian Thought 607Mark Edwards Bibliography 620 Index 681

New discoveries constantly make us rethink what we know about Roman history. A Companion to the Roman Empire keeps students and professional historians up to date with these developments, but also demonstrates to a wider audience why the Roman Empire remains a compelling and vibrant subject. It provides readers with a guide both to Roman imperial history and to the field of Roman studies. The individual contributors to this volume all make significant new contributions to the areas about which they are writing. Topics range from intellectual and social issues, to administrative, economic, and cultural history, and each chapter provides readers with a survey of the subject. The volume also includes a discussion of sources and methods for studying Roman imperial history.  

"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)

"With a panoramic lens, more diverse and inclusive than any forerunner, this indispensable Companion probes the Roman empire for the 21st century. A tour de force certain to challenge and excite everyone engaged by Roman civilization." –Richard Talbert, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill "An immensely rich and varied menu. This volume will not only be an invaluable vade mecum for scholars, students and all who have an interest in Roman imperial civilisation and its impact on the Mediterranean world and northern Europe, but will also reveal the wealth of evidence for Roman culture and the new and exciting ways in which historians can 'read' it." –Alan Bowman, Oxford University "David Potter has assembled a powerful team and together they have produced a rich collection - a major new synthesis of much of the most recent research in the discipline. No student or teacher could fail to learn from it." –Greg Woolf, University of St. Andrews

List of Illustrations List of Tables Notes on Contributors Acknowledgements Reference Works: Abbreviations Ancient Authors: Abbreviations and Glossary The Emperors of Rome from Augustus to Constantine Introduction: The shape of Roman history: David Potter Part I: The Sources Part II: Narrative Part III: Administration Part IV: Social and Economic Life Part V: Intellectual Life Part VI: Religion Bibliography Index