Mesopotamia & Arabia

by Lee Fratantuono

Overview

This volume explores the Roman invasions and military operations in two distinct yet related areas: Mesopotamia and Arabia. In these far-flung regions of the ancient known world, Rome achieved the greatest point of expansion in the history of her Empire. Under the reign of the Emperor Trajan, the Roman Empire reached the point of maximum expansion made famous by maps of the world circa AD 120.

Under the Severans, significant efforts were expended on a Roman dream of linking the two regions into one mighty provincial bulwark against Eastern enemies. Individual chapters detail the history of the conquest of these easternmost territories of the Empire, analyzing the opposing armies involved (Roman, Parthian, Sassanian, Arab) and the reasons for success and failure. The story of how Rome won and lost her Far East offers a paradigm for the rise and fall of the greatest military empire of the ancient world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473883260
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	01/27/2021
Series:	Roman Conquests
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Dr Lee Frantantuono is a Professor of Classics at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1 Introduction to Roman Arabia 1

Chapter 2 Roman Naval and other Military Operations in the Red Sea under the Early Principate 20

Chapter 3 Trajan and Arabia Petraea 24

Chapter 4 Roman Arabia during the High Empire 33

Chapter 5 Roman Mesopotamia 38

Chapter 6 Roman Mesopotamia from Hadrian to Septimius Severus 45

Chapter 7 Septimius Severus 59

Chapter 8 Caracall 65

Chapter 9 Elagabalus, Alexander Severus and the Rise of Persia 84

Chapter 10 Persia and the Crisis of the Third Century from Maximinus Thrax to Philip the Arab 100

Chapter 11 From Philip the Arab to Renewed War with Sapor 109

Chapter 12 Palmyra and Roman Resurgence in the East 117

Chapter 13 Zenobia and Aurelian 123

Chapter 14 From Probus to Diocletian 137

Chapter 15 Roman Mesopotamia and Arabia in the Fourth Century 148

Index 171