Osprey Essential Histories 21 : Rome at War 293-696 AD

In the early third century AD the Roman Empire was near the peak of its power. Rome controlled territory which stretched from the borders of Iraq to southern Scotland, and from the Sahara to the North Sea, while its influence extended beyond its formal frontiers. But by the mid seventh century the shape of the Mediterranean World and Europe had radically changed in ways which are crucial for the organisation of the modern world. How did the new world religions of Christianity and then Islam affect the social, political and military balances of the ancient world? Was the Roman army of the later empire significantly different from the expansionist machine that had helped to create the great empire? In a period of change how did successive Roman rulers attempt to react to the varying problems that they had to confront? The reasons for the 'decline and fall' of the Roman Empire have been much discussed, but military factors undoubtedly played a considerable part. Michael Whitby tackles these questions and challenges the accepted view that the army in the later Roman period was weak, suggesting that it was, in fact, a dynamic and remarkably successful organisation.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Background to War : Controlling the Empire
• Warring Sides : Inside and Outside the Empire
• Outbreak : Creating Crisis
• The Fighting : Challenges to Empire
• Portraits of Soldiers : Brothers in Arms
• The World around War : Impact of Conflict
• Portraits of Civilians : Notable Individuals
• How the War Ended : Making New Boundaries
• Conclusion and Consequences : Roman Legacies
• Further Reading
• Index