The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture by Peter Garnsey (PDF)

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During the Principate (roughly 27 BCE to 235 CE), when the empire reached its maximum extent, Roman society and culture were radically transformed. But how was the vast territory of the empire controlled? Did the demands of central government stimulate economic growth or endanger survival? What forces of cohesion operated to balance the social and economic inequalities and high mortality rates? How did the official religion react in the face of the diffusion of alien cults and the emergence of Christianity? These are some of the many questions posed here, in the new, expanded edition of Garnsey and Saller’s pathbreaking account of the economy, society, and culture of the Roman Empire. This second edition includes a new introduction that explores the consequences for government and the governing classes of the replacement of the Republic by the rule of emperors. Addenda to the original chapters offer up-to-date discussions of issues and point to new evidence and approaches that have enlivened the study of Roman history in recent decades. A completely new chapter assesses how far Rome’s subjects resisted her hegemony. The bibliography has also been thoroughly updated, and a new color plate section has been added.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: From the Inside Flap Brilliantly conceived by two of the greatest living authorities on ancient Rome and an instant classic when it first appeared, this magisterial work has been generously expanded and updated to incorporate the latest scholarship. We could not wish for a more penetrating analysis of the foundations of Roman civilization. Walter Scheidel, Dickason Professor in the Humanities, Stanford University Garnsey and Saller’s The Roman Empire is unsurpassed as a clear and thought-provoking introduction to key themes and issues in the economic, social, and cultural history of Rome. This new edition, expanding the book’s scope and offering a guide to the most important recent research, ensures that it will remain essential reading for students for years to come. Neville Morley, Professor of Ancient History, University of Bristol A now-classic introduction to the Roman Empire, which was always much more than a mere introduction and whose contents have withstood the test of time, is now made available in an even better edition, with new contributions on resistance, religion, and culture by Martin Goodman, Richard Gordon, Jas Elsner, and Greg Woolf. The bibliographical addenda are mines of information: sure guides to the best of recent scholarship on every aspect of the empire covered by the authors. This new edition of The Roman Empire is highly recommended as simply the best entrée to the big aspects and the big problems of the Roman Empire at the height of its power. Brent D. Shaw, Andrew Fleming West Professor of Classics, Princeton University Freshly revised for the twenty-first century, Garnsey and Sallers masterful survey remains the indispensable introduction to society and the economy under the emperors. Scholars as well as students will mine its updated bibliography for authoritative guidance to recent research, while the new chapter and addenda enhance the books value for the classroom. Nathan Rosenstein, Professor of History, The Ohio State University Packed with information and ideas, yet concise and readable, this is by far the best available guide for students and general readers to how the Roman Empire actually worked, and its enduring impact on the history of the Mediterranean world. Groundbreaking in its thematic approach when first published in 1987, it now benefits from an introductory survey of the empire’s political system, and supplements to each chapter that provide a bird’s-eye view of the questions raised and debated in a generation of new research. Dominic Rathbone, Professor of Ancient History, King’s College London From the Back Cover “Brilliantly conceived by two of the greatest living authorities on ancient Rome and an instant classic when it first appeared, this magisterial work has been generously expanded and updated to incorporate the latest scholarship. We could not wish for a more penetrating analysis of the foundations of Roman civilization.” ―Walter Scheidel, Dickason Professor in the Humanities, Stanford University “Garnsey and Saller’s The Roman Empire is unsurpassed as a clear and thought-provoking introduction to key themes and issues in the economic, social, and cultural history of Rome. This new edition, expanding the book’s scope and offering a guide to the most important recent research, ensures that it will remain essential reading for students for years to come.” ―Neville Morley, Professor of Ancient History, University of Bristol “A now-classic introduction to the Roman Empire, which was always much more than a mere introduction and whose contents have withstood the test of time, is now made available in an even better edition, with new contributions on resistance, religion, and culture by Martin Goodman, Richard Gordon, Jas Elsner, and Greg Woolf. The bibliographical addenda are mines of information: sure guides to the best of recent scholarship on every aspect of the empire covered by the authors. This new edition of The Roman Empire is highly recommended as simply the best entrée to the big aspects and the big problems of the Roman Empire at the height of its power.” ―Brent D. Shaw, Andrew Fleming West Professor of Classics, Princeton University “Freshly revised for the twenty-first century, Garnsey and Saller’s masterful survey remains the indispensable introduction to society and the economy under the emperors. Scholars as well as students will mine its updated bibliography for authoritative guidance to recent research, while the new chapter and addenda enhance the book’s value for the classroom.” ―Nathan Rosenstein, Professor of History, The Ohio State University “Packed with information and ideas, yet concise and readable, this is by far the best available guide for students and general readers to how the Roman Empire actually worked, and its enduring impact on the history of the Mediterranean world. Groundbreaking in its thematic approach when first published in 1987, it now benefits from an introductory survey of the empire’s political system, and supplements to each chapter that provide a bird’s-eye view of the questions raised and debated in a generation of new research.” ―Dominic Rathbone, Professor of Ancient History, King’s College London About the Author Peter Garnsey is Emeritus Professor of the History of Classical Antiquity and a Fellow of Jesus College, University of Cambridge. His publications include Social Status and Legal Privilege in the Roman Empire; Famine and Food Supply in the Graeco-Roman World; Ideas of Slavery from Aristotle to Augustine; Cities, Peasants and Food; Food and Society in Classical Antiquity; and Thinking about Property: From Antiquity to the Age of Revolution.Richard Saller is Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University. He is the author of Personal Patronage under the Early Empire and Patriarchy, Property, and Death in the Roman Family, and he is coeditor of The Cambridge Economic History of Greco-Roman Antiquity. Contributing authors include Jas Elsner, Martin Goodman, Richard Gordon, and Greg Woolf. Read more

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This is a dense, if often dull, academic read. It is a kind of analytic synthesis at high undergraduate or early grad school level, where the reader is expected to know not just Augustus’ career but who the Severans and Flavians were. Pulling together mainstream research, there is no attempt to offer or prove some kind of original interpretation or overarching claim, no narrative, and minimal background or context. This is fine for a seminar or history buff (why I read it), but only for the most persistent general reader.The book covers the Principate (27 BCE to 235 CE), when Roman Empire was established and flourished until the long, extremely destructive crisis of power that ensued at the end of the period. Like the Republic, the Empire relied on local elites to provide a minimum of services in exchange for power and status: if they supplied tax revenues when requested and ensured order, they could do more or less as they pleased with few exceptions (e.g. human sacrifice was banned). Interestingly, in contrast to China, the Emperors did not create a professional civil bureaucracy, relying instead on traditional aristocratic appointees as they did under the Republic. Governing remained ad hoc and expectations minimal. There was no mission civilisatrice.Rome remained an urban phenomenon that did not extend itself deep into the countryside as a culture – the diversity remained. During this time, the economy was relatively stagnant, i.e. based on agriculture with some trade; this is one of the few instances where I strongly disagreed with the authors, in that I believe trade patterns indicate the global economy grew during the period of stability, as evidenced in recent archaeological finds. (The economy section was the weakest in my opinion: they concluded that there was little to go on and so they had to rely on “theory”, i.e. mostly literary sources, which is no longer the current fashion in classical academia as I understand it.)The society remained extremely hierarchical: Senators at the top, Equestrians in the middle (spanning influence in both Rome and the provinces), and Decurions at the strictly local level; this was based on a mix of wealth and pedigree, i.e. largely static in turnover cycles of about 30 years. There was also a proletariat kind of “free” working class and of course, slaves and freemen who often had to delay social mobility until the next generation in formal status regardless of their accomplishments. Given the high infant mortality and shorter life spans, the upper classes did require replenishment at the end of each generation, usually by adoption. The authors argue that the image of an authoritarian family is exaggerated, as fathers often married late and died out before their children came of age. In my opinion, this section was the most informative and the only one with any originality.Finally, the culture and religions of the period were fluid and eclectic, often absorbed into the mainstream in cities or ignored instead of tolerated. Christianity was seen as inconsequential, if an occasional nuisance and not actively persecuted. For example, African artisans developed exciting new methods of mosaics (color and vivid scenes instead of geometrical patterns), which became popular and are the sources of the amazing images we find all over the Mediterranean basin. Religion was largely syncretic, combining local ritual with official (if rare) entry of deities and Emperors into the official Pantheon. All of this changed once the civil wars began at the end of the Principate, as Emperors were less secure and needed to find new ways to consolidate and preserve power.With the right level of knowledge, the content of this book is very interesting in what it synthesizes. But reading it is not very fun and much of it is outdated and unoriginal. Recommended with these caveats.

⭐This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the society, culture and economy of the Roman Empire in its stable and prosperous period, the period of the Principate (so-called because “Princeps” was the preferred title for the first Emperor, Augustus, and his successors) through the first and second centuries AD. It contains enough information to satisfy the amateur historian and has two extensive bibliographies for the professional.Garnsey and Saller first published the book in 1987. However, as the authors explain in their Preface, this is not a Second Edition in the usual sense. Rather than revising and updating, the authors have retained the original text and supplemented each chapter with an addendum containing new material. (This is why there is a bibliography and a supplementary bibliography.) There are only two completely new chapters. I believe this was a mistake. Most of the addenda do not give new information; they recommend new sources, i.e. books and articles, from the last thirty years. This may be all very well for the professional historian with access to University library facilities; it is not much use for private individuals like me. I am surprised that the publisher, Bloomsbury, was prepared to accept second best for a second edition.So, although I would give the first edition five stars, this new edition only merits three.

⭐An extremely broad analysis of major themes in Roman society. It’s a great starting point for essays and the supplementary bibliography on topics is really useful.

⭐Quick delivery, great condition and great price. Many thanks

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