Western Civilization - HIST 130 - Fordham: History Resources

The third edition of Ancient Greek Civilization is a concise, engaging introduction to the history and culture of ancient Greece from the Minoan civilization to the age of the Roman Empire. Explores the evolution and development of Greek art, literature, politics, and thought across history, as well as the ways in which these were affected by Greek interaction with other cultures Now includes additional illustrations and maps, updated notes and references throughout, and an expanded discussion of the Hellenistic period Weaves the latest scholarship and archeological excavations into the narrative at an appropriate level for undergraduates

The legacy of the Greeks touches all aspects of modern life, and the world we live in would be unrecognizable without its influence. And yet, as A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities abundantly demonstrates, the Greeks were as disposed toward mysterious customs, peculiar superstitions, and uproarious opinions as any ancient or modern culture.

The contact zones between the Greco-Roman world and the Near East represent one of the most exciting and fast-moving areas of ancient-world studies. This new collection of essays, by world-renowned experts (and some new voices) in classical, Jewish, Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Persian literature, focuses specifically on prose fiction, or 'the ancient novel'.

A Chronology of the Roman Empire provides a complete and comprehensive chronological reference for the entire Roman state and its neighbours. Following opening discussion of the ancient sources and the myth of the foundation of Rome, the events of each year to the fall of the last emperor in 476 are covered in detail, including listings of the elected consuls and major battles as well as political and social events. All material is derived from original sources. The introduction considers key historiographical questions and concerns of the period. Professor John Drinkwater considers the importance of questioning sources, most notably Livy, and what can be said with any authority. He places the period in its historical, political and cultural context and challenges some of the scholarship to date. This is a complete resource and indispensable tool for anyone studying the Roman Empire.

The armed forces of Rome, particularly those of the later Republic and Principate, are rightly regarded as some of the finest military formations ever to engage in warfare. Less well known however is their use by the State as tools for such nonmilitary activities in political, economic and social contexts. In this capacity they were central instruments for the Emperor to ensure the smooth running of the Empire. In this book the use of the military for such non-conflict related duties is considered in detail for the first time. The first, and best known, is running the great construction projects of the Empire in their capacity as engineers. Next, the role of the Roman military in the running of industry across the Roman Empire is examined, particularly the mining and quarrying industries but also others. They also took part in agriculture, administered and policed the Empire, provided a firefighting resource and organized games in the arena. The soldiers of Rome really were the foundations on which the Roman Empire was constructed: they literally built an empire. Simon Elliott lifts the lid on this less well-known side to the Roman army, in an accessible narrative designed for a wide readership.

On 31 December AD 406, a group of German tribes crossed the Rhine, pierced the Roman defensive lines and began a rampage across Roman Gaul, sacking cities such as Metz, Arras and Strasbourg. Foremost amongst them were the Vandals and their search for a new homeland took them on the most remarkable odyssey. The Romans were unable to stop them and their closest allies, the Alans, marching the breadth of Gaul, crossing the Pyrenees and making themselves masters of Spain. However, this Kingdom of the Vandals and Alans soon came under intense pressure from Rome's Visigothic allies. In 429, under their new king, Gaiseric, they crossed the straits of Gibraltar to North Africa. They quickly overran this rich Roman province and established a stable kingdom. Taking to the seas they soon dominated the Western Mediterranean and raided Italy, famously sacking Rome itself in 455. Eventually, however, they were utterly conquered by Belisarius in 533 and vanished from history. Simon MacDowall narrates and analyses these events, with particular focus on the evolution of Vandal armies and warfare.

The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors Rome called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling an Empire that had dominated their lives for so long. A leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians, Heather relates the extraordinary story of how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart. He shows first how the Huns overturned the existing strategic balance of power on Rome's European frontiers, to force the Goths and others to seek refuge inside the Empire. This prompted two generations of struggle, during which new barbarian coalitions, formed in response to Roman hostility, brought the Roman west to its knees.

The second edition of Sport and Spectacle in the AncientWorld updates Donald G. Kyle?s award-winning introductionto this topic, covering the Ancient Near East up to the late RomanEmpire. ? Challenges traditional scholarship on sport andspectacle in the Ancient World and debunks claims that there wereno sports before the ancient Greeks ? Explores the cultural exchange of Greek sport and Romanspectacle and how each culture responded to the other?sentertainment ? Features a new chapter on sport and spectacle during theLate Roman Empire, including Christian opposition to pagan gamesand the Roman response ? Covers topics including violence, professionalism insport, class, gender and eroticism, and the relationship ofspectacle to political structures

Drawing on the expertise of 26 distinguished scholars, thisimportant volume covers the major issues in the study of medievalEurope, highlighting the significant impact the time period had oncultural forms and institutions central to European identity. Examines changing approaches to the study of medieval Europe,its periodization, and central themes Includes coverage of important questions such as identity andthe self, sexuality and gender, emotionality and ethnicity, as wellas more traditional topics such as economic and demographicexpansion; kingship; and the rise of the West Explores Europe?s understanding of the wider world toplace the study of the medieval society in a global context

According to the received history, the Cistercian order was founded in Cîteaux, France, in 1098 by a group of Benedictine monks who wished for a stricter community. They sought a monastic life that called for extreme asceticism, rejection of feudal revenues, and manual labor for monks. Their third leader, Stephen Harding, issued a constitution, the Carta Caritatis, that called for the uniformity of custom in all Cistercian monasteries and the establishment of an annual general chapter meeting at Cîteaux. The Cistercian order grew phenomenally in the mid-twelfth century, reaching beyond France to Portugal in the west, Sweden in the north, and the eastern Mediterranean, ostensibly through a process of apostolic gestation, whereby members of a motherhouse would go forth to establish a new house. The abbey at Clairvaux, founded by Bernard in 1115, was alone responsible for founding 68 of the 338 Cistercian abbeys in existence by 1153.