The Social History of Rome (Ancient Society and History) [Paperback]

Géza Alföldy (Author), David Braund (Translator), Frank Polluck (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1988 | Series: Ancient Society and History

This book treats such topics as the structure of archaic Roman society; social changes from the beginning of Roman expansion to the Second Punic War; slave uprisings and other conflicts in the society of the Late Republic; the social system of the early Empire; the crisis of the Roman Empire; and late Roman society to the fall of the Empire.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent discussions of the plebians and their struggle for political recoginiton, the nature of the aristrocracy, the nobles, the economy, the senatorial and equestrian orders with their ladders of promotion, the municipal aristocracy... [An] excellent introduction to the subject by a historian of international reputation.

(Classical World )

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (November 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801837014
• ISBN-13: 978-0801837012
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,031,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Companion to the Entire Roman Cataloge, February 17, 2011

By 

Eric Gannon "Etgreat" (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Social History of Rome (Ancient Society and History) (Paperback)

This book was amazing in its sweeping analysis of what was really going on in the Roman world.

The author does not get bogged down with too many names and dates. Instead, the author uses lots of names, only not of persons, but of societal groupings, legal relationships, economic terms, personal relationships, ideologies and political terms...i.e. all the REAL aspects of the Roman world that was the impetus behind much of its more famous monumental events.

One caveat. This book is not for the introductory student of Rome. One should thoroughly and resiliently push their way through all of Livy, Appian, Sallust, Caesar, Cicero, Cassius Dio, Tacitus, Suetonius, Plutarch, Marcellinus and Gibbon BEFORE ever picking this book up. This is because much of Roman terminology and concepts, both political, legal and social, can only be understood through their historical evolution. E.g. Tribune - highest representative of the plebs, with veto powers over the senate, can call the Assembly and present legislation....these are meaningless words unless you thoroughly digest Livy and SEE why the office of Tribune began and how it came about and what problems it was meant to address...etc. Historical events introduce one to Rome.

It is in this epic analysis of these social pressures and factors that Alfoldy has done, that one can truly 'cap' their studies of Rome with this level of insight. He will establish trends and connections to events across the Republic, Principate and Dominate that you never knew existed.

A must have for a true student of Rome

6 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Synthèse du monde romain indispensable, September 30, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Ste-Foy, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Social History of Rome (Ancient Society and History) (Paperback)

Cet ouvrage se veut la synthèse de l'histoire sociale de Rome. Il examine les institutions à travers les groupes sociaux. Pour une recherche historique sur le monde romain, ce document est extrêmement utile.