Customer Reviews

The Antonines: The Roman Empire in Transition

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I was sadly disappointed by this book, the first (and probably last) I have read by Michael Grant.

The writing seems to deliberately remove all specific details. I suspect this is because the author wants to present an `objective' view of what the emperors did, instead of the gossip and innuendo that is, like it or not, a major source of information for Roman history. This sanitization goes to such extreme length that important information is not given. For example we are told Antoninus Pius did certain things to try to dispel the reputation he had of being stingy, but we are not told how we know he had this reputation, or whether it was deserved.

Another more blatant example comes from the start of the chapter on Marcus Aurelias. The author tries to demonstrate how Marcus Aurelias increased the strength of the upper classes. The example is a dispute between the farmers of a small town along the route that cattle took between their winter and summer pastures and the owners of these cattle (apparently the emperor). The farmers complained directly to the emperor. `The emperor passed the decision to the praetorian prefects, Marcus Bassaeus Rufus and Marcus Macrinus Avitus Catonius Vindex, and their ruling gave the [farmers] no satisfaction whatsoever.' So we learn the names of two prefects but we don't know exactly what the dispute or resolution was nor how this is an example of increasing the upper classes strength.

Although I certainly agree that authors should declare their opinions, I expect that they will give me enough information so that I can decide whether I agree with them.

I don't think I will finish this book, it irritates me so. I recommend Colin Wells `The Roman Empire'. It covers a longer period, and has almost as much detail (if not more) about both the political and social history of this era.
The Roman Empire: Second Edition

If you want a bare bones history, and are willing to accept the author's opinions without question, then this book is adequate.