The History Book Club discussion
ROMAN EMPIRE -THE HISTORY...
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7. THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE ~ CHAPTER 7 (187 - 212) (06/21/10 - 06/27/10) ~ No spoilers, please
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Mod
I'm not too sure but I think that Gibbon has made an error in this chapter when he states that; "As soon as the Gordians had appeased the first tumult of a popular election, they removed their court to Carthage. They were received with the acclamations of the Africans, who honoured their virtues, and who, since the visit of Hadrian, had never beheld the majesty of a Roman emperor."
I am sure that I read in my recent book on Septimius Severus that he visited Carthage during his African tour and I checked another source which states:
"The INDVLGENTIA coin types date the Carthage visit of Septimius Severus and Caracalla to 202-203, based on an inscription showing the Carthaginians as "Septimian" in 202. Dea Caelestis (Cybele) was the patron goddess of Carthage. Waters issuing from a rock suggest that Severus built an aqueduct for Carthage. Literary or juristic evidence exists for other favors: the ius italicum, relieving the city of tribute; construction of an odeum; and permission to celebrate a festival. In 202 Carthage and its citizens adopted the honorary epithet Septimian, in gratitude for these favors."
Am I mis-reading Gibbon and does he mean this was the first time a Roman born emperor visited Carthage?
Mod
Hi Bentley, I found this statement at an Early African Christianity web site:"202-203 - African-born Emperor Septimius Severus pays state visit to Carthage and initiates vast building program at Lepcis Magna in Libya as fortified city."
So maybe Gibbon did get it wrong?
I don't know about anyone else but I really enjoyed how Gibbon finished this chapter:"The limits of the Roman Empire still extended from the Western Ocean to the Tigris, and from Mount Atlas to the Rhine and the Danube. To the undiscerning eye of the vulgar, Philip appeared a monarch no less powerful than Hadrian or Augustus had formerly been. The form was still the same, but the animating health and vigour were fled. The industry of the people was discouraged and exhausted by a long series of oppression. The discipline of the legions, which alone, after the extinction of every other virtue, had propped the greatness of the state, was corrupted by the ambition, or relaxed by the weakness, of the emperors. The strength of the frontiers, which had always consisted in arms rather than in fortifications, was insensibly undermined; and the fairest provinces were left exposed to the rapaciousness or ambitions of the barbarians, who soon discovered the decline of the Roman Empire."
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Bentley, I found this statement at an Early African Christianity web site:"202-203 - African-born Emperor Septimius Severus pays state visit to Carthage and initiates vast building program a..."
who was he fortifying against?
I think he was fortifying against some of the desert tribes which had been raiding the colony but I will have to check one of my books to confirm that.
This begins the seventh week's reading in our new Spotlighted group discussion.
The complete table of contents is as follows:
SYLLABUS:
Table of Contents
Introduction xi - cvi
A Note on the Text – cvii – cviii
Acknowledgements – cix
Selected Further Readings – cx – cxi
Chronology – cxii –cxiii
Preface – 1 – 4
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TOC – First Volume
ONE: The Extent and Military Force of the Empire, in the Age of the Antonines p. 31
TWO: Of the Union and Internal Prosperity of the Roman Empire in the Age of the Antonines p. 56
THREE: Of the Constitution of the Roman Empire in the Age of the Antonines p. 85
FOUR: The Cruelty, Follies, and Murder of Commodus – Election of Pertinax – His Attempts to reform the State. – His Assassination by the Pretorian Guards. p. 108
FIVE: Public Sale of the Empire to Didius Julianus by the Praetorian Guards. – Clodius Albinus in Britain, Pescennius Niger in Syria, and Septimius Severus in Pannonia, declare against the Murderers of Pertinax. – Civil Wars and Victory of Severus over his three Rivals. – Relaxation of Discipline, - New Maxims of Government. p. 127
SIX: The Death of Severus. – Tyranny of Caracellaa. – Usurpation of Macrinus. – Follies of Elagabulus. – Virtues of Alexander Severus. – Licentiousness of the Army. – General State of the Roman Finances. – p. 149
SEVEN: The Elevation and Tyranny of Maximin. – Rebellion in Africa and Italy, under the Authority of the Senate. – Civil Wars and Seditions. – Violent Deaths of Maximin and his Son, of Maximus and Balbinus, and of the three Gordians. – surpation and secular Games of Philip. p. 187
EIGHT: Of the State of Persia after the Restoration of the Monarchy of Artaxerxes p. 213
NINE: The State of Germany till the Invasion of the Barbarians, in the Time of the Emperor Decius. p. 230
TEN: The Emperor Decius, Gallus, Aemilianus, Valerian, and Gallienus. – The general Irruption of the Barbarians, - The thirty Tyrants. p. 253
ELEVEN: Reign of Claudius. – Defeat of the Goths. – Victories, Triumph, and Death of Aurelian. p. 295
TWELVE: Conduct of the Army and Senate after the Death of Aurelian. – Reigns of Tacitus, Probus, Carus, and his Sons. P. 327
THIRTEEN: The Reign of Diocletian and his three Associates, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius, - General Re-establishment of Order and Tranquility. – The Persian War, Victory and Triumph. – The New Form of Administration. – Abdication and Retirement of Diocletian and Maximian. p. 358
FOURTEEN: Troubles after the Abdication of Diocletian. – Death of Constantius. – Elevation of Constantine and Maxentius. – Six Emperors at the Same Time. – Death of Maximian and Galerius. – Victories of Constantine over Maxentius and Licinius. – Re-union of the Empire under the Authority of Constantine. p. 400
FIFTEEN: The Progress of the Christian Religion, and the Sentiments, Manners, Numbers, and Condition of the primitive Christians. p. 446
SIXTEEN: The Conduct of the Roman Government towards the Christians, from the Reign of Nero to that of Constantine. p. 514
Appendix I – 1084 - 1105
Note: This is a group membership selected book.
The assignment for this seventh week includes the following segments/pages:
WEEK SEVEN: The Elevation and Tyranny of Maximin. – Rebellion in Africa and Italy, under the Authority of the Senate. – Civil Wars and Seditions. – Violent Deaths of Maximin and his Son, of Maximus and Balbinus, and of the three Gordians. – surpation and secular Games of Philip. p. 187 - 212
We look forward to your participation; but remember this is a non spoiler thread.
We will open up threads for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers.
This book was kicked off on May 10th. This will be the seventh week's assignment for this book.
We look forward to your participation. Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library.
A special welcome to those who will be newcomers to this discussion and thank you to those who have actively contributed on the previous Spotlighted book selection. We are glad to have you all.
Welcome,
~Bentley
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