The essays in War and Society in the Roman World collectively offer aninnovative investigation into this area of classical studies a field which haslong been in... » 

The essays in War and Society in the Roman World collectively offer aninnovative investigation into this area of classical studies a field which haslong been in need of different critical perspectives. This collection avoidsrehashing the minutiae of warfare viewing it instead as a species of socialaction affected by social conditions and ideologies and having socialeconomic and cultural consequences.The central theme of this volume is the shifting relationship between warfareand the Roman citizen body. The dominant role of war in Roman life under theRepublic is examined together with the related themes of Roman expansion andits consequences both for the Romans and for those they conquered. Under theprincipate expansion largely ended and the inhabitants of the empire enjoyedthe Roman peace protected by a professional army. A number of chapters focuson these changes explaining how they came about analyzing their effect onattitudes to war and probing the extent to which peace was a reality. The finalchapters study the Late Empire in terms of the rise of warlords and in theWest the final disappearance of the Roman army. «