The Praetorship in the Roman Republic: Volume 1: Origins to 122 BC [Hardcover]

T. Corey Brennan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195114590 | ISBN-13: 978-0195114591 | Publication Date: June 21, 2001

Brennan's book surveys the history of the Roman praetorship, which was one of the most enduring Roman political institutions, occupying the practical center of Roman Republican administrative life for over three centuries. The study addresses political, social, military and legal history, as well as Roman religion. Volume I begins with a survey of Roman (and modern) views on the development of legitimate power--from the kings, through the early chief magistrates, and down through the creation and early years of the praetorship. Volume II discusses how the introduction in 122 of C. Gracchus' provincia repetundarum pushed the old city-state system to its functional limits.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The list of topics is enormous, the accumulated detailed scholarship stunning. There is no doubt that Brennan's study is a necessary addition to the library of every professional historian of Rome and will be employed by scholars as the standard work on the praetorship for decades to come."--Europe: Ancient and Medieval

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

T. Corey Brennan, Associate Professor of Classics, Rutgers University. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195114590
• ISBN-13: 978-0195114591
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,087,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Research, March 1, 2005

By 

Octavius (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Praetorship in the Roman Republic: Volume 1: Origins to 122 BC (Hardcover)

Although many classical historians have focused on the Senate, the consulship or the tribunate as political posts in the Roman Republic, few have investigated the origins and development of the praetorship. Unfortunate because this office was long treated as a springboard to the consulship by Roman politicians. The position was also one of enormous influence as it involved not only judicial functions, but was a gubernatorial post to administer the provinces. Addressing these issues, Brennan has done an outstanding work in researching the evolution of this important administrative post in the Roman republican system.

Brennan studies how the praetorship evolved as purely a military post in the Early Republic to one involving judicial functions as well as the administration of the later Republic's vast domains encompassing most of Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. Brennan carefully sifts through historical texts and other evidence to support his conclusions as to the origins of this office, its evolution, its functions, and how it affected the republican stystem as a whole.

This is a fine scholarly work by an author who has clearly done his homework. Brennan's work is definitely a great contribution to the field and addresses some neglected areas in that still vast academic subject. I wouldn't recommend this work as an introductory text as its depth and scope would already require an advanced knowledge of Roman history. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has more than a fleeting interest in political science, sociology, anthropology, or classical studies.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful history that has been much needed!, August 31, 2001

By 

John W. Adams (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Praetorship in the Roman Republic: Volume 1: Origins to 122 BC (Hardcover)

This is an execellant work that details from difficult and choatic historical sources the history of the development of the Roman Praetor. This powerful position that developed during the Roman Republic set the stage for the expansion of the later Empire. Brennan has done a masterful job at presenting the often confusing information on the subject into a dense but very understandable form. His analysis is thurough and much needed in an area of research that has not been well developed. For anyone who is interested in Roman history, the history of modern political institutions or the development of administrative power in an ancient nation, this is your book.