Manichaeism in Mesopotamia and the Roman East

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Karl Galinsky

Grand political accomplishment and artistic productivity were the hallmarks of Augustus Caesar's reign (31 B.C. to A.D. 14), which has served as a powerful model of achievement for societies throughout Western history. Although much research has been done on individual facets of Augustan culture, Karl Galinsky's book is the first in decades to present a unified overview, one that brings together political and social history, art, literature, architecture, and religion. Weaving analysis and narrative throughout a richly illustrated text, Galinsky provides not only an enjoyable account of the major ideas of the age, but also an interpretation of the creative tensions and contradictions that made for its vitality and influence. Galinsky draws on source material ranging from coins and inscriptions to the major works of poetry and art, and challenges the schematic concepts and dichotomies that have commonly been applied to Augustan culture. He demonstrates that this culture was neither monolithic nor the mere result of one man's will. Instead it was a nuanced process of evolution and experimentation. Augustan culture had many contributors, as Galinsky demonstrates, and their dynamic interactions resulted in a high point of creativity and complexity that explains the transcendence of the Augustan age. Far from being static, its sophisticated literary and artistic monuments call for the active response and involvement of the reader and viewer even today.

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Eric Orlin

""In this timely and important book, Orlin explores a central conundrum in republican history through the lens of religion, namely how the Romans managed to construct a distinctive ethnic identity for themselves while incorporating masses of non-Romans into the citizen-body. He shows how decisions about which foreign gods to admit into the Republic's cult and on what terms erected clear yet permeable boundaries that defined Romanness and at the same time helped to extend Rome's sway over Italy. This work is a must read for anyone interested in Roman ethnogenesis and the foundations of the Republic's imperium."--Nathan Rosenstein, The Ohio State University" ""This is a well-researched and well-written book on a very important topic. Orlin argues that while the boundaries of R̀omanness' in religion (and, one can assume, much else) consistently expanded during the Republic, the Roman elite simultaneously took great care that the expanded boundaries were firm and clear. In terms of foreign cults introduced at Rome, Orlin convincingly proves his case."--Arthur Eckstein, University of Maryland, College Park." "Religion is a Particularly Rich Field Within Which to Study Roman Self-Definition, for the Romans considered themselves to be the most religious of all peoples and ascribed their imperial success to their religiosity. Building on the observation that the Romans were remarkably open to outside influences, Foreign Cults in Rome explores how the Romans installed foreign religious elements as part of their own religious system and how that affected their notions of what it meant to be Roman. The inclusion of so many foreign elements posed difficulties for defining a sense of Romanness at the very moment when a territorial definition was becoming obsolete. Using models drawn from anthropology, this book demonstrates that Roman religious activity beginning in the middle Republic (early third century B.C.E.) contributed to redrawing the boundaries of Romanness. The methods by which the Romans absorbed cults and priests and their development of practices in regard to expiations and the celebration of ludi allowed them to recreate a clear sense of identity, one that could include the peoples they had conquered. While this identity faced further challenges during the civil wars of the Late Republic, the book suggests that Roman openness remained a vital part of their religious behavior during this time. The volume concludes with a brief look at the reforms of the first emperor Augustus, whose activity can be understood in light of Republican activity, and whose actions laid the foundation for further adaptation under the Empire."--Jacket.

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Desmond Morton

"In this expanded and updated classic, Desmond Morton explores the history of the Canadian labour movement and brings the story to the present day with a discussion of globalization and its impact on workers. Working People examines the clash between the idealists, who fought for such "impossible" dreams as the eight-hour day, paid holidays, industrial democracy, and equality for woman, and the realists, who wrestled with the human realities of self-interest, prejudice, and fear. It focuses on workers - from 19th-century dock workers to teenage "crews" at McDonald's today - and documents their struggle for dignity and security in a constantly changing world."--BOOK JACKET.

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Clive Gamble

"Fully updated, Archaeology: The Basics 2nd edition has been revised to reflect growth in areas such as material culture, human evolution and the political use of the past." "From everyday examples to the more obscure, this is essential reading for all students, independent archaeologists and all those who want to know more about archaeological thought, history and practice."--Jacket.