Rome in Africa - Hardcover

Raven, Susan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415082617 ISBN 13: 9780415082617

Publisher: Routledge, 1993

Synopsis

Nearly three thousand years ago the Phoenicians set up trading colonies on the coast of North Africa, and ever since successive civilizations have been imposed on the local inhabitants, largely from outside. Carthaginians, Romans, vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, TUrks, French and Italians have all occupied the region in their time.
The Romans governed this part of Africa for six hundred cities, twelve thousand miles of roads and hundreds of aquaducts, some fifty miles long. The remains of many of these structures can be seen today.
At the height of its prosperity, during the second and third centuries AD, the area was the granary of Rome, and produced more olive oil than Italy itself.
The broadening horizons of the Roman Empire provided scope for the particular talents of a number of Africa's sons: the writers Terence and Apuleius; the first African Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, famous Christian theologians like Tertulllian and Saint Augustine - these are just some who rose to meet the challenges of their age.

About this title

Review:

'This is the only account of Roman Africa in English that is both readable and reliable, and in the twenty years since its first publication it has established itself as the standard account. This new third edition has been thoroughly revised to take into account recent research, including the international excavations at Carthage. It is indispensable for students and general readers who wish to study the history of one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, and for visitors to the area who want to understand the background to North Africa's spectacular Roman remains.' - Colin Wells, Trinity University, Texas

Synopsis:

Nearly 3000 years ago the Phoenicians set up trading colonies on the coast of North Africa, and ever since successive civilizations have been imposed on the local inhabitants, largely from outside. Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, French and Italians have all occupied the region in their time. The Romans governed this part of Africa for 600 years. Throughout the region their genius for building was readily apparent: there were some 600 cities, 12,000 miles of roads and hundreds of aqueducts, some 50 miles long. The remains of these structures can be seen today. At the height of its prosperity, during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, the area was the granary of Rome and produced more olive oil than Italy itself. The Roman Empire provided scope for the particular talents of a number of Africa's sons: the writers Terence and Apuleius; the first African Roman Emperor Septimius Severus; the famous Christian theologians like Tertullian and St Augustine. Susan Raven recounts the story of this Empire in North Africa, drawing on a wide variety of historical and archaeological evidence in addition to her own experience of the region.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0415082617
• ISBN 13: 9780415082617
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 288