Sasanian Persia
Between Rome and the Steppes of Eurasia
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Edinburgh University Press
Published:13th May '19
Should be back in stock very soon
The Sasanian Empire (third-seventh centuries) was one of the largest empires of antiquity, stretching from Mesopotamia to modern Pakistan and from Central Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. This mega-empire withstood powerful opponents in the steppe and expanded further in Late Antiquity, whilst the Roman world shrunk in size. Recent research has revealed the reasons for this success, notably population growth in some key territories, economic prosperity and urban development, made possible through investment in agriculture and military infrastructure on a scale unparalleled in the late antique world. Our volume explores the empire’s relations with its neighbours and key phenomena which contributed to its wealth and power, from the empire’s armed forces to agriculture, trade and treatment of minorities. The latest discoveries, notably major urban foundations, fortifications and irrigations systems, feature prominently. An empire whose military might and urban culture rivalled Rome and foreshadowed the caliphate will be of interest to scholars of the Roman and Islamic world.
Despite the granular nature of the data presented in the volume in both archaeological and historical terms, the work should not be dismissed as a series of reports. Instead, chapter authors repeatedly demonstrate the ability to draw meaningful conclusions even in the face of considerable contradictory pluralisms, to borrow a turn of phrase from Greenwood (p. 200)… Considered as a whole, the volume makes a compelling argument for the innovative nature of Sasanian power, and its ability to develop uniquely appropriate strategies that facilitated both the growth and maintenance of its sphere in a wide variety of contexts. -- Lara Fabian, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg * Antiquity *
The work is recommended to all who are working on the Sasanian Empire. This publication has once again demonstrated that "Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia" has become an important publishing series for pre-Islamic Persia.Translated from the German -- Tino Shahin, Bonn * Plekos *
The work is recommended to all who are working on the Sasanian Empire. This publication has once again demonstrated that "Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia" has become an important publishing series for pre-Islamic Persia.Translated from the German -- Tino Shain * Plekos *
ISBN: 9781474452304
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 511g
336 pages