Administrative development in the kingdoms and principalities of the Near East under the Aegis of Rome
This thesis examines the administrative impact of dynastic rule in the Roman Near East. It compares administrative practice under kings and princes with the provincial administration that eventually followed. By contrasting these two manifestations of Roman imperialism, it conceptualises dynastic rule as a distinct form of governance and evaluates its role within the context of Roman imperialism in the East. Previous scholarship has maintained that dynastic rule was an intermediate stage in the development of Roman provincial territory. According to this interpretation, kings and princes, either consciously or unconsciously, were maintained in order to affect particular changes on the territories under their control, making them more suitable for direct rule. This study provides a critical evaluation of this influential perspective. The thesis thus consciously moves away from the study of kings and princes and focuses on the study of kingdoms and principalities. Each chapter deals with a different administrative activity essential to governance in the Roman world â political organisation, arbitration and enforcement, and taxation â and first considers practices under kings and princes before contrasting
Maclennan, Donald Alan
Administrative development in the kingdoms and principalities of the Near East under the Aegis of Rome. This thesis examines the administrative impact of dynastic rule in the Roman Near East. It compares administrative practice under kings and princes with the provincial administration that eventually followed. By contrasting these two manifestations of Roman imperialism, it conceptualises dynastic rule as a distinct form of governance and evaluates its role within the context of Roman imperialism in the East. Previous scholarship has maintained that dynastic rule was an intermediate stage in the development of Roman provincial territory. According to this interpretation, kings and princes, either consciously or unconsciously, were maintained in order to affect particular changes on the territories under their control, making them more suitable for direct rule. This study provides a critical evaluation of this influential perspective. The thesis thus consciously moves away from the study of kings and princes and focuses on the study of kingdoms and principalities. Each chapter deals with a different administrative activity essential to governance in the Roman world â political organisation, arbitration and enforcement, and taxation â and first considers practices under kings and princes before contrasting
administrative development kingdom principality near_east aegis rome examines administrative impact dynastic rule roman_near_east compare administrative practice king provincial administration eventually follow contrast manifestation roman_imperialism conceptualise dynastic rule distinct_form governance evaluate role within_context roman_imperialism east previous_scholarship maintain dynastic rule intermediate stage_development roman_provincial territory according interpretation king prince either consciously unconsciously maintain order affect particular change territory control make suitable direct rule study provide_critical evaluation influential perspective thus consciously move_away study king prince focus study kingdoms principality deal different administrative activity essential governance roman_world political_organisation enforcement taxation first_considers practice king prince contrast