Julian the Apostate (Debates and Documents in Ancient History) by Shaun Tougher

Debates and Documents in Ancient History

by Shaun Tougher

This new study of the last pagan Roman emperor provides remarkable insight into the man and his times. Issues of historical significance are identified and discussed in one volume. As the last pagan Roman Emperor, he provides a focus for studying the religious transformations that were taking place in the empire in the fourth century. Further, his secular policies and concerns concentrate attention on other transformations - social and political - within the period.Notably, Julian elicited sharply divided opinion from his contemporaries, which is largely polarised between pagan supporters and Christian opponents. Such division of opinion is also matched by the modern literature on him. Was he the prospective saviour of the Roman Empire, or was he out-of-touch and living in the past? Was he an evangelist for Mithraism, or an altogether more traditional pagan? Was he a shrewd military man, or a rash risk-taker whose luck spectacularly ran out on his Persian expedition? These questions and more are asked and discussed, allowing students to reach their own verdict on this exciting and controversial emperor.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 26, 2007

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't be fooled by my modest score; this is a really good book but with too little meat on the bone.

Regardless Shaun Tougher analysis of the historians views on the person, rule and legacy of Julian Apostate the last pagan emperor of the Roman Empire is very well written and structured. Even though mr Shaun Tougher presents himself as a sort of impartial judge trying to stand between fanboys and naysayers concerning the topic of this particular emperor, I can't help but feel as if when writing this, Tougher himself was slowly but surely charmed by this man. Increasingly, even if never going full on fanboy, Shaun Tougher's presentation of contrasting views on the emperor became more aligned with the views of modern supporters; while more strongly rejecting or casting in a bad light the opinions of those who described the emperor as a bigot, a deluded out of touch fool or lucky gambler who finally had his come-uppons in Persia.

I really can't blame Shaun.... I myself went in a different direction having been a fanboy, I have been slowly but surely drifting to a more center ground of fascination and refraining form misinterpreting wishful thinking with objective historicism. At it's core, the study of this emperor is a study of mind and personality far more then has been the case with any other Roman emperor or political figure with the possible exception of emperor Nero even if the figures could not have been more unalike.

What the book has plenty off, is translated historical sources; letters and texts written by his doctor, his friend philosopher, his favorite pagan priest, a serving army officer turned historian, letters and texts written by his christian and political enemies and finally a lot of material written by Julian himself. It makes for such a huge pile of documents relating to a single person's mindset and ascribed characteristics that strongly contradict one and another depending on the author; that one is forced to pick a side with one of these authors and strongly reject the others. This picking off sides is the core reason most are either a pro or anti Julian scholar with the contemporary modern historian becoming a modern version of one of the sides, pagan or christian, that characterized his person, his reign and the era of the times.

I will refrain from repeating all the big questions but even a brief look on the accessible internet encyclopedia will tell you that this man was involved in such tremendous acts that one instantly understands that their is little room for a center ground. One is either one side or the other and it is an uphill battle to refrain from projecting personal emotions to strongly into this.

However even if well written, documented and structured that made me a bit more modest in my stance on the historical figure; this book lacks meat. It really expects a reader to be fully versed in the political, economic, cultural and intellectual topics of 4th century Mediterranean history. Even if I myself am adequately informed on the matter; most potential readers will not be; that makes this book a specialized third wave book, or a second wave book at the very least. The book you pick up when you have read broader studies on the scene and time. therefore a seemingly unappreciative two star score, however if one only would rank the material and style of the book and not comment on what is lacking; I would rate it four stars. For the specialized reader or scholar only....

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to the life, primary sources, and scholarly debates involving the later Roman emperor Julian.