The Reach of Rome: A History of the Roman Imperial Frontier 1St-5Th Centuries Ad [Hardcover]

Derek Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1997

An accessible history explaining the rise, preeminence, crises, and collapse of the Roman frontier, The Reach of Rome traces the political forces that created the frontier and portrays those who commanded and manned it, as well as those against whom it was held. Finally, the book describes the nature and location of the surviving remains. 30 maps. of photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

English historian Williams combines a history of Roman frontier military organization with a gazetteer of surviving Roman military structures. He does more than simply study Roman fortifications, also outlining Rome's traditional approach to offensive war and speculating on the reasons for the unprecedented shift to defensive warfare. Republican Rome had always seen itself as an expansionist state that took advantage of every opportunity to enlarge its territory and treasury by war. Following the end of the republic, the emperors became responsible for setting military policy. Williams believes that the shift to the defensive was more the result of personality and temperament than of external factors and that the shift fatally weakened the spirit of the Roman army. His work will appeal to readers interested in ancient military history. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries.?Robert Andrews, Duluth P.L., Minn.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

A by-product of the gradual slackening of Rome's expansionist impulses was the development of a policy of defensible static frontiers. Thus, the Rhine-Danube frontier was protected by a series of fortified structures. In the far north, Hadrian's Wall was constructed to protect southern Britain from incursions by Picts. Williams has written an innovative and valuable survey of frontier regions, in which he describes them as zones of cultural and political interchange as well as occasionally violent conflict. His treatment of the Parthian frontier sheds light on a region often neglected even by classical specialists. General readers with a moderate interest in classical history will find this somewhat difficult; however, those with a good history background will discover a treasure trove of information and insight. Jay Freeman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 342 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312156316
• ISBN-13: 978-0312156312
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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