Hadrian and the Cities of the Roman Empire
eBook - PDF

Hadrian and the Cities of the Roman Empire

  1. English
  2. PDF
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

Hadrian and the Cities of the Roman Empire

About this book

Cities throughout the Roman Empire flourished during the reign of Hadrian (A.D. 117–138), a phenomenon that not only strengthened and legitimized Roman dominion over its possessions but also revealed Hadrian as a masterful negotiator of power relationships. In this comprehensive investigation into the vibrant urban life that existed under Hadrian's rule, Mary T. Boatwright focuses on the emperor's direct interactions with Rome's cities, exploring the many benefactions for which he was celebrated on coins and in literary works and inscriptions. Although such evidence is often as imprecise as it is laudatory, its collective analysis, undertaken for the first time together with all other related material, reveals that over 130 cities received at least one benefaction directly from Hadrian. The benefactions, mediated by members of the empire's municipal elite, touched all aspects of urban life; they included imperial patronage of temples and hero tombs, engineering projects, promotion of athletic and cultural competitions, settlement of boundary disputes, and remission of taxes.

Even as he manifested imperial benevolence, Hadrian reaffirmed the self-sufficiency and traditions of cities from Spain to Syria, the major exception being his harsh treatment of Jerusalem, which sparked the Third Jewish Revolt. Overall, the assembled evidence points to Hadrian's recognition of imperial munificence to cities as essential to the peace and prosperity of the empire. Boatwright's treatment of Hadrian and Rome's cities is unique in that it encompasses events throughout the empire, drawing insights from archaeology and art history as well as literature, economy, and religion.

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Yes, you can access Hadrian and the Cities of the Roman Empire by Mary Taliaferro Boatwright in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Roman Ancient History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. List of Illustrations and Tables
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. List of Abbreviations
  8. Chapter 1: Roman Cities and Roman Power: The Roman Empire and Hadrian
  9. Chapter 2: The Sources
  10. Chapter 3: Changes of City Status and Their Impact on City Life
  11. Chapter 4: Changes Affecting Cities’ Daily Governance and Economy
  12. Chapter 5: Civic Benefactions with Extramural Effects
  13. Chapter 6: Engineering and Architectural Donations
  14. Chapter 7: Athens, Smyrna, and Italica
  15. Chapter 8: City Foundations, New and Renewed
  16. Chapter 9: Hadrian’s Civic Benefactions and the Roman Empire
  17. Bibliography
  18. Index