

The Origin of Empire
Rome from the Republic to Hadrian
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ISBN 9780674659674
Publication date: 06/03/2019
Beginning with the Roman army’s first foray beyond its borders and concluding with the death of Hadrian in 138 CE, this panoramic history of the early Roman Empire recounts the wars, leaders, and social transformations that lay the foundations of imperial success.
Between 264 BCE, when the Roman army crossed into Sicily, and the death of Hadrian nearly three hundred years later, Rome became one of the most successful multicultural empires in history. In this vivid guide to a fascinating period, David Potter explores the transformations that occurred along the way, as Rome went from republic to mercenary state to bureaucratic empire, from that initial step across the Straits of Messina to the peak of territorial expansion.
Rome was shaped by endless political and diplomatic jockeying. As other Italian city-states relinquished sovereignty in exchange for an ironclad guarantee of protection, Rome did not simply dominate its potential rivals—it absorbed them by selectively offering citizenship and constructing a tiered membership scheme that allowed Roman citizens to maintain political control without excluding noncitizens from the state’s success. Potter attributes the empire’s ethnic harmony to its relative openness.
This imperial policy adapted and persisted over centuries of internal discord. The fall of the republican aristocracy led to the growth of mercenary armies and to the creation of a privatized and militarized state that reached full expression under Julius Caesar. Subsequently, Augustus built a mighty bureaucracy, which went on to manage an empire ruled by a series of inattentive, intemperate, and bullying chief executives. As contemporary parallels become hard to ignore, The Origin of Empire makes clear that the Romans still have much to teach us about power, governance, and leadership.
Praise
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Potter has written a characteristically crisp, vibrant, and provocative new account of a turbulent and fascinating period in Roman history. Highly recommended.
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A lively and engaging new account of the inexorable rise of the Roman Empire from a city on the banks of the Tiber to a supreme power in the ancient world. Potter’s book is sure to become essential reading for anyone interested in this key period of Roman history.
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Combines a sweeping narrative with impressively detailed analysis of the factors behind Rome’s imperial conquests and internal turbulence. An invaluable resource.
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Potter presents this epic tale afresh with insight, erudition, and remarkable detail. His approach stands out for its clear-eyed exposure of the bloodshed, suffering, and persistent strife that led eventually to the Republic’s self-destruction and the unexpected emergence of Pax Romana. Here is a book that should jolt generous admirers of ancient Rome to rethink their viewpoint.
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A vigorous experience even for readers who are already very familiar with the men, women, scandals, and wars the book considers. As a portrait of an old and vast representative republic deteriorating into an autocracy, Potter’s book is easily, even alarmingly, lucid.
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This is a flawless book. It should inspire and educate all who approach it…An enjoyable, dramatic narrative.
Author
- David Potter is the author of Constantine the Emperor and The Victor’s Crown: A History of Ancient Sport from Homer to Byzantium. He is the Francis W. Kelsey Collegiate Professor of Greek and Roman History and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan.
Book Details
- 448 pages
- 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 inches
- Harvard University Press
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