SHARK
08-25-2007, 10:57 PM
Greetings!
Here is a book review that I did for "The Antonines" by Michael Grant. Have you read the book? What do you think about:
(1) My review
(2) "The Antonines" By Michael Grant
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
Book Review The Antonines
Reviewed By: SHARK
Michael Grant, The Antonines, (London and New York: Routledge, 1996)
The Antonines is a book written by Mr. Michael Grant wherein he analyzes the emperors Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, and Commodus, their achievements, and the age of cultural change and transition in which they ruled over the Roman Empire. Grant provides an extensive analysis of each of the emperors in turn, and then offers a thorough discussion of the Antonine Age, and the various cultural, social, religious, and military developments that occurred during the roughly fifty year period of the Antonine emperors. Grant discusses various military campaigns, barbarian immigrations, as well as changes in Roman society, from art, economy, and government, to the growth of Christianity. Grant provides a thorough and insightful analysis of the Antonine Age of the Roman Empire.
Michael Grant currently serves as the Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Belfast, in Northern Ireland. Michael Grant has enjoyed a long professional academic career, writing over fifty books dealing with ancient European history, with special interest in the classical age of Greece and Rome. Grant comes from the British academic tradition, and has a distinguished reputation as a fine scholar and writer. His works are widely read and have been celebrated through academic peer-review and extensive professional honours. Grant enjoys an honoured status as an expert in ancient Greece and Rome. Grant demonstrates his academic thoroughness and professionalism with providing an extensive discussion of ancient sources, references, bibliography, and notes for The Antonines.
Michael Grant has written The Antonines in an effort to provide a more thorough analysis of the Antonine emperors and the age in which they ruled than has previously been provided by historians, both ancient and modern. Grant has also included discussion of artistic and literary accomplishments of the age, and examines numerous authors that have in the past been overlooked. Grant provides discussion and analysis of the Antonine Age, and the particular challenges that confronted the Roman Empire.
Grant organizes the book into two parts. Part I discusses the Antonine emperors, each in turn, with particular emphasis on Marcus Aurelius. Of particular interest is Grant’s discussion of Marcus Aurelius’ campaigns along the Danube and against Germania. Marcus Aurelius was so successful against the German barbarians that “Marcus Aurelius allowed himself to be hailed as ‘Germanicus.’” (47) Part II of The Antonines provides analysis of the Antonine Age, architecture, literature, and art.
Grant makes liberal use of quotes from ancient and modern scholars, as well as providing discussion and analysis of the ancient scholars, including their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Throughout the book, Grant includes his own analysis alongside discussion of differing points of view from ancient scholars like Dio Cassius, or more modern writers such as Gibbon. Grant discusses controversial points of view, as well as the various merits of different arguments. For example, in discussing the campaign in Germania, Grant highlights the episode of the Rain Miracle, and different historical perspectives on it, as well as clues from archeology. (47-48) Grant analyzes various aspects of Roman culture during the Antonine Age, and concludes with fresh assessments of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, as well as the lessons of Rome that can, at least in part, be applied to current trends in trans-national unification experiments throughout Europe. (159-162)
Grant writes in a brisk writing style, providing an insightful analysis of focus and clarity. Along the way, Grant provides scholarly views, anecdotes, and discussions of weaker and stronger arguments. Grant provides extensive discussion and analysis of Marcus Aurelius as a man, as well as his character, and especially his philosophical interests in contrast to his years spent leading the legions. Grant discusses the brilliance of the Meditations, and how they reflected the mind and character of Marcus Aurelius. (55)
In a different section, Grant provides excellent details on the eastern rebellion in 175 AD of Gaius Avidius Cassius, as well as the nuanced response by Marcus Aurelius. (49-52) At the time, Marcus Aurelius was involved with campaigns in Germania, and in planning for further conquests. The rebellion arose from several unusual strands of circumstance and interpretation, and Grant shows how the emperor dealt with the crisis in a variety of ways.
Grant discusses the growth of Christianity throughout the empire, foreshadowing the eclipse of pagan religion and the transformation of the Roman Empire from polytheism to monotheism. Grant discusses the nuances of Christian and pagan philosophy as well as an analysis of heresies such as Gnosticism. Of special interest is Grant’s discussion of Christian theologians such as Ireneus, and pagan critics of Christianity such as Celsius. (123-127)
Later, in Part II of the book, Grant analyzes the growth and change in Roman art and architecture. Of note here is Grant’s discussion of the Column of Marcus Aurelius. (142) Grant describes the changes in Roman buildings, styles, as well as archeological examples of particular sites of interest. The Column of Marcus Aurelius provides many details of the Roman military and campaigns. Grant notes and discusses changes in the way Rome’s enemies were viewed, as shown in details of the Column of Marcus Aurelius. (142)
Grant provides details on the growth of Roman trade networks, and the products traded, as well as the increasing sophistication and development of far-reaching trade routes. Grant notes that Rome developed trade routes with Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as with China. (158) Grant provides details on Roman coins found in the Baltic, and how the Romans were ever mindful of the eastern trade routes when they were dealing with the Parthians. (158)
Mr. Michael Grant has written an interesting and enlightening book on the Antonine emperors and the Antonine Age. Grant provides a thorough analysis that reads quickly, providing an intriguing intellectual feast of Roman accomplishments in the Antonine Age. Grant’s thesis is multi-faceted, and engaging. Grant describes the Antonine emperors with fine details of character and personality, and nuanced discussion of various sources. Grant presents his analysis in an honest, even-handed manner that frequently demonstrates his thorough grasp of the historical sources. Grant maintains his analysis with a range of historical details ranging from historians to archeology that is always insightful and provocative. The Antonines is an excellent resource for the general reader as well as the scholar, and is a fine addition to any reading list.
Here is a book review that I did for "The Antonines" by Michael Grant. Have you read the book? What do you think about:
(1) My review
(2) "The Antonines" By Michael Grant
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
Book Review The Antonines
Reviewed By: SHARK
Michael Grant, The Antonines, (London and New York: Routledge, 1996)
The Antonines is a book written by Mr. Michael Grant wherein he analyzes the emperors Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, and Commodus, their achievements, and the age of cultural change and transition in which they ruled over the Roman Empire. Grant provides an extensive analysis of each of the emperors in turn, and then offers a thorough discussion of the Antonine Age, and the various cultural, social, religious, and military developments that occurred during the roughly fifty year period of the Antonine emperors. Grant discusses various military campaigns, barbarian immigrations, as well as changes in Roman society, from art, economy, and government, to the growth of Christianity. Grant provides a thorough and insightful analysis of the Antonine Age of the Roman Empire.
Michael Grant currently serves as the Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Belfast, in Northern Ireland. Michael Grant has enjoyed a long professional academic career, writing over fifty books dealing with ancient European history, with special interest in the classical age of Greece and Rome. Grant comes from the British academic tradition, and has a distinguished reputation as a fine scholar and writer. His works are widely read and have been celebrated through academic peer-review and extensive professional honours. Grant enjoys an honoured status as an expert in ancient Greece and Rome. Grant demonstrates his academic thoroughness and professionalism with providing an extensive discussion of ancient sources, references, bibliography, and notes for The Antonines.
Michael Grant has written The Antonines in an effort to provide a more thorough analysis of the Antonine emperors and the age in which they ruled than has previously been provided by historians, both ancient and modern. Grant has also included discussion of artistic and literary accomplishments of the age, and examines numerous authors that have in the past been overlooked. Grant provides discussion and analysis of the Antonine Age, and the particular challenges that confronted the Roman Empire.
Grant organizes the book into two parts. Part I discusses the Antonine emperors, each in turn, with particular emphasis on Marcus Aurelius. Of particular interest is Grant’s discussion of Marcus Aurelius’ campaigns along the Danube and against Germania. Marcus Aurelius was so successful against the German barbarians that “Marcus Aurelius allowed himself to be hailed as ‘Germanicus.’” (47) Part II of The Antonines provides analysis of the Antonine Age, architecture, literature, and art.
Grant makes liberal use of quotes from ancient and modern scholars, as well as providing discussion and analysis of the ancient scholars, including their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Throughout the book, Grant includes his own analysis alongside discussion of differing points of view from ancient scholars like Dio Cassius, or more modern writers such as Gibbon. Grant discusses controversial points of view, as well as the various merits of different arguments. For example, in discussing the campaign in Germania, Grant highlights the episode of the Rain Miracle, and different historical perspectives on it, as well as clues from archeology. (47-48) Grant analyzes various aspects of Roman culture during the Antonine Age, and concludes with fresh assessments of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, as well as the lessons of Rome that can, at least in part, be applied to current trends in trans-national unification experiments throughout Europe. (159-162)
Grant writes in a brisk writing style, providing an insightful analysis of focus and clarity. Along the way, Grant provides scholarly views, anecdotes, and discussions of weaker and stronger arguments. Grant provides extensive discussion and analysis of Marcus Aurelius as a man, as well as his character, and especially his philosophical interests in contrast to his years spent leading the legions. Grant discusses the brilliance of the Meditations, and how they reflected the mind and character of Marcus Aurelius. (55)
In a different section, Grant provides excellent details on the eastern rebellion in 175 AD of Gaius Avidius Cassius, as well as the nuanced response by Marcus Aurelius. (49-52) At the time, Marcus Aurelius was involved with campaigns in Germania, and in planning for further conquests. The rebellion arose from several unusual strands of circumstance and interpretation, and Grant shows how the emperor dealt with the crisis in a variety of ways.
Grant discusses the growth of Christianity throughout the empire, foreshadowing the eclipse of pagan religion and the transformation of the Roman Empire from polytheism to monotheism. Grant discusses the nuances of Christian and pagan philosophy as well as an analysis of heresies such as Gnosticism. Of special interest is Grant’s discussion of Christian theologians such as Ireneus, and pagan critics of Christianity such as Celsius. (123-127)
Later, in Part II of the book, Grant analyzes the growth and change in Roman art and architecture. Of note here is Grant’s discussion of the Column of Marcus Aurelius. (142) Grant describes the changes in Roman buildings, styles, as well as archeological examples of particular sites of interest. The Column of Marcus Aurelius provides many details of the Roman military and campaigns. Grant notes and discusses changes in the way Rome’s enemies were viewed, as shown in details of the Column of Marcus Aurelius. (142)
Grant provides details on the growth of Roman trade networks, and the products traded, as well as the increasing sophistication and development of far-reaching trade routes. Grant notes that Rome developed trade routes with Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as with China. (158) Grant provides details on Roman coins found in the Baltic, and how the Romans were ever mindful of the eastern trade routes when they were dealing with the Parthians. (158)
Mr. Michael Grant has written an interesting and enlightening book on the Antonine emperors and the Antonine Age. Grant provides a thorough analysis that reads quickly, providing an intriguing intellectual feast of Roman accomplishments in the Antonine Age. Grant’s thesis is multi-faceted, and engaging. Grant describes the Antonine emperors with fine details of character and personality, and nuanced discussion of various sources. Grant presents his analysis in an honest, even-handed manner that frequently demonstrates his thorough grasp of the historical sources. Grant maintains his analysis with a range of historical details ranging from historians to archeology that is always insightful and provocative. The Antonines is an excellent resource for the general reader as well as the scholar, and is a fine addition to any reading list.