Books like Later Roman Empire, 284-602 (Later Roman Empire, The) by A. H. M. Jones

Edward Gibbon’s monumental history of Rome, compressed into a single volume, traces the empire’s rise and fall while highlighting religion’s influence and the rise of Islam.

"This book offers a large scale reassessment of the function of Roman emperor over three centuries (from Augustus to Constantine) and of the social realities of this exercise of power. Concentrating on the patterns of communication between the emperor and his subjects, the author shows that such communications were normally initiated by the subjects 'whether grouped in cities or other associations, or individually and that the emperor fulfilled his role primarily by making responses to them or giving decisions or verdicts between them. The book casts new light on a number of detailed historical questions such as the sources of the emperor's wealth and the ways he spent it; the imperial residences and the mobility of the court; and the relatively small and simple entourage that the emperor needed to perform his functions. But above all, it emphasizes two major historical themes: the steady detachment of the emperor from the republican institutions of the city of Rome; and the way in which relations between Emperor and Church were shaped by the emperor's long-standing relations with cities, temples and associations in the pagan world. Drawing on a wide range of evidence, from literature and legal writings to inscriptions and papyri, the main text can be read without any knowledge of Latin or Greek."--Bloomsbury Publishing This book offers a large scale reassessment of the function of Roman emperor over three centuries (from Augustus to Constantine) and of the social realities of this exercise of power. Concentrating on the patterns of communication between the emperor and his subjects, the author shows that such communications were normally initiated by the subjects - whether grouped in cities or other associations, or individually and that the emperor fulfilled his role primarily by making responses to them or giving decisions or verdicts between them. The book casts new light on a number of detailed historical questions such as the sources of the emperor's wealth and the ways he spent it; the imperial residences and the mobility of the court; and the relatively small and simple entourage that the emperor needed to perform his functions. But above all, it emphasizes two major historical themes: the steady detachment of the emperor from the republican institutions of the city of Rome; and the way in which relations between Emperor and Church were shaped by the emperor's long-standing relations with cities, temples and associations in the pagan world. Drawing on a wide range of evidence, from literature and legal writings to inscriptions and papyri, the main text can be read without any knowledge o f Latin or Greek.

The Romans is a concise, but readable and comprehensive, survey of the civilization of ancient Rome.It covers:* More than 1200 years of the history of Rome and of the famous, and infamous, people who ruled its empire* Religion and social life, including the position of women, slavery, education, food, dress and entertainment* Literature, art, architecture and technologyAnd includes:* Maps, chronology, appendices on the Roman calendar and numerals, and reading-list* Extracts in translation from contemporary Latin and Greek authors* 50 illustrationsThe Romans is an indispensable introduction for students of classics and classical studies. It is also an invaluable guide for those studying other disciplines for which an understanding of the civilization and literature of Rome is desirable, and for the general reader.

A magisterial history of the titanic struggle between the Roman and Jewish worlds that led to the destruction of Jerusalem.Martin Goodman--equally renowned in Jewish and in Roman studies--examines this conflict, its causes, and its consequences with unprecedented authority and thoroughness. He delineates the incompatibility between the cultural, political, and religious beliefs and practices of the two peoples and explains how Rome's interests were served by a policy of brutality against the Jews. At the same time, Christians began to distance themselves from their origins, becoming increasingly hostile toward Jews as Christian influence spread within the empire. This is the authoritative work of how these two great civilizations collided and how the reverberations are felt to this day.From the Trade Paperback edition.

"The follow-up to Rubicon picks up with the murder of Julius Caesar and vividly depicts the intrigue, murder, ambition and treachery of Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero"--NoveList.