Description
Book SynopsisDrawing on the literature, especially the historiography, composed by the members of the elite who conducted Roman foreign affairs, this book reevaluates the roots, motivations, and goals of Roman imperial foreign policy especially as that policy related to warfare.
Trade Review"A truly significant contribution to the discussion of Roman ideology... This is an important book, and its readers will learn a great deal about Roman aristocratic culture." - Thomas S. Burns, American Historical Review "By recognizing that the glory that was at stake was not so much that of individual Romans as that of the Roman people as a whole, Mattern has explained how an ad hoc policy administered by amateur, rotating generals who craved personal glory could nonetheless have produced the effect of a 'grand strategy' which was consistently successful for the State as a whole." - Greg Rowe, Museum Helveticum "The book is as well written as it is well informed, and historians who are interested in the nature of imperial power, in any period, will find it valuable." - David Potter, Journal of Interdisciplinary History
Table of ContentsList of Maps and Illustrations Preface Note on Abbreviations Roman Emperors, 31 B.C.-A.D. 238 1. Introduction: The Decision-Making Elite 2. The Image of the World 3. Strategy 4. Income and Expenditure 5. Values Epilogue: Cathage Must Be Destroyed References Index
