The creation of the Roman state, AD 200-340 : social and administrative aspects
The subject of the thesis is that of the transformation of the Roman empire in the third and fourth centuries. The starting date in the title reflects a belief that the impetus for this change was generated by the decree of the emperor M. Aurelius Antoninus (Caracalla), whereby all free subjects were made citizens in AD 212. This laid the foundations for the transformation of the Roman empire, centred on the city of Rome, into a Roman nation-state, with a government dissociated from that of the City. The study is divided into three parts. Part One is an examination of the impact of the Constitutio Antoniniana. It is argued that both the extent and nature of this impact can be measured by an examination of the changes that Roman naming practices underwent in the subsequent period, and that the new naming practices of the later third century onwards reflect the creation of a new basis for the social hierarchy. Part two analyses the development of the praetorian prefecture, an office which is recognised to be one of the key institutions of the late Roman state. It traces the change in the nature of the office from one of personal service to the emperor to its later fourth-century incarnation as virtual viceroy
Salway, Richard William Benet
Politics and government ; Rome
The creation of the Roman state, AD 200-340 : social and administrative aspects. The subject of the thesis is that of the transformation of the Roman empire in the third and fourth centuries. The starting date in the title reflects a belief that the impetus for this change was generated by the decree of the emperor M. Aurelius Antoninus (Caracalla), whereby all free subjects were made citizens in AD 212. This laid the foundations for the transformation of the Roman empire, centred on the city of Rome, into a Roman nation-state, with a government dissociated from that of the City. The study is divided into three parts. Part One is an examination of the impact of the Constitutio Antoniniana. It is argued that both the extent and nature of this impact can be measured by an examination of the changes that Roman naming practices underwent in the subsequent period, and that the new naming practices of the later third century onwards reflect the creation of a new basis for the social hierarchy. Part two analyses the development of the praetorian prefecture, an office which is recognised to be one of the key institutions of the late Roman state. It traces the change in the nature of the office from one of personal service to the emperor to its later fourth-century incarnation as virtual viceroy
creation roman state social administrative aspect subject transformation roman_empire start date title reflect belief impetus change generate decree emperor caracalla whereby free subject make citizen laid foundation transformation roman_empire centre city_rome roman nation_state government city study_divide three_part part_one examination impact argue extent_nature impact measure examination change roman name practice underwent subsequent period new naming practice onwards reflect creation_new basis social_hierarchy part_two analysis development prefecture office recognise one_key institution late_roman state trace_change nature office personal service emperor incarnation virtual viceroy