Description
Book SynopsisImperial Cults looks at the role of religious institutions in shaping imperial authority in Ancient China and Rome. By examining the changes made by rulers of each state, Emperor Wu of Han and Octavian Augustus, in Rome, it demonstrates that both rulers reshaped their respective religious institutions in order to consolidate both religious and political authority.
Trade ReviewIn a trailblazing comparative study that casts new light on the workings of the Han and Roman empires, Robinson compellingly analyzes how two of the most powerful rulers of the ancient world remade religious institutions to support their grand political ambitions." - Walter Scheidel, Dickason Professor in the Humanities and Professor of History, Stanford University
Imperial Cults is a brilliant work of comparative history that makes a significant contribution to our knowledge of the complex nexus of religion, politics, order, knowledge, authority, and power in these two ancient empires at crucial moments in their respective projects of imperial consolidation." - Carlos F. Noreña, Professor of History, University of California, Berkeley
Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Transitions to Empire in Early China and Rome 3. State Cult in Early China and Rome 4. Reshaping Religious Institutions 5. Expanding Influence 6. Communicating Imperial Authority 7. Redefining Ceremony 8. Conclusion Bibliography
