The Roman West, AD 200–500
An Archaeological Study

This book focuses on the archaeological evidence, allowing fresh perspectives and new approaches to the fate of the Roman West.

Simon Esmonde Cleary (Author)

9780521196499, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 March 2013

547 pages, 95 b/w illus.
25.3 x 18 x 2.8 cm, 1.23 kg

'This is a major work that is welcome not only in the field of late antique studies but in Roman archaeology as a whole. It presents a valuable synthesis of archaeological material from different areas in Western Europe, crossing boundaries of geography and scholarly tradition, but also offers important discussion and analysis. Its scale and emphasis on archaeology rather than history, though it is also dotted with sections of historical narrative, makes it an important addition to the field … undoubtedly a major resource … an important contribution and is very accessible and well presented.' Adam Rogers, Britannia

This book describes and analyses the development of the Roman West from Gibraltar to the Rhine, using primarily the extensive body of published archaeological evidence rather than the textual evidence underlying most other studies. It situates this development within a longer-term process of change, proposing the later second century rather than the 'third-century crisis' as the major turning-point, although the latter had longer-term consequences owing to the rise in importance of military identities. Elsewhere, more 'traditional' forms of settlement and display were sustained, to which was added the vocabulary of Christianity. The longer-term rhythms are also central to assessing the evidence for such aspects as rural settlement and patterns of economic interaction. The collapse of Roman imperial authority emphasised trends such as militarisation and regionalisation along with economic and cultural disintegration. Indicators of 'barbarian/Germanic' presence are reassessed within such contexts and the traditional interpretations questioned and alternatives proposed.

Introduction
1. Prologue: the 'third-century crisis'
2. The military response: soldiers and civilians
3. Christianity and the traditional religions
4. Reshaping the cities
5. Emperors and aristocrats in the late Roman West
6. Rural settlement and economy in the late Roman West
7. The economy of the late Roman West
8. Breakdown and barbarians
9. The fifth century and the disintegration of the Roman West
10. Epilogue: AD 200–500, a coherent period?

Subject Areas: Classical Greek & Roman archaeology [HDDK], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]