Rome's Gothic Wars
Rome's Gothic Wars
Rome's Gothic Wars is a concise introduction to research on the Roman Empire's relations with one of the most important barbarian groups of the ancient world. The book uses archaeological and historical evidence to look not just at the course of events, but at the social and political causes of conflict between the empire and its Gothic neighbours. In eight chapters, Michael Kulikowski traces the history of Romano-Gothic relations from their earliest stage in the third century, through the development of strong Gothic politics in the early fourth century, until the entry of many Goths into the empire in 376 and the catastrophic Gothic war that followed. The book closes with a detailed look at the career of Alaric, the powerful Gothic general who sacked the city of Rome in 410.
- Explains clearly how the ancient evidence leads to modern historical conclusions
- Shows the reasons for modern controversy over Gothic history
- Uses archaeological evidence to help explain the social and economic reasons for conflicts between the Roman empire and its neighbours
Reviews & endorsements
“Kulikowski offers a novel, exhilarating and convincing interpretation . . . straight to the heart of a major historical debate.”
John F. Drinkwater, author of Fifth-Century Gaul: A Crisis of Identity?
“...a lively and important new study . . . engaging and sophisticated narrative of events.”
Guy Halsall, author of Violence and Society in the Early Medieval West
“Intriguing, comprehensive, and up-to-date history... The reader gets a sense of who the Goths were and why they had such a tremendous effect on Rome, defeating the Roman emperor Valens in 378, the greatest military defeat in Roman imperial history, and plundering the city of Rome in 410. In the process Kulikowski de-mystifies the nationalist mythologies surrounding the Goths while telling a fascinating story.”
Paul Freedman, Department of History, Yale University
“An extraordinary window back into the life-and-death struggles of the late Roman Empire. Kulikowski brings an epic conflict, rich in character and detail, to life. A great book.”
Robert Gardner, Producer/Director Barbarians
Three-time Emmy winner and Academy Award Nominee
"Rome's Gothic Wars is a breezy and animated, yet authoritative, look at this remarkable time in history and it's sure to be of interest to anybody with a taste for character-driven history. Kulikowski approaches his subject with both an admirable zeal and a level-headed coolness that makes this book both informative and fun."
Military History Online
"Kulikowski does an excellent job in putting together such a confused history into this brief but effective narrative."
Divi Filius, UNRV History - Roman Empire
"The book is easy to read, the narrative flows well and there are many subheadings within the chapters that keep the pace moving at an appropriate rate for an introductory text. In such a short space of 184 pages the author does an exceptional job of introducing the key debates of this complex and sometimes volatile topic, while still presenting a solid contemporary analysis of the most recent sources.
-BMCR
"Rome's Gothic Wars is likely to surprise even experienced students of the period with its fresh perspective."
The NYMAS Review
"A stimulating new interpretation of Gothic origins and of such storied figures as Alaric, the sacker of Rome, and Theodosius, the exiled Roman commander who revived Roman fortunes after Adrianople. Worthwhile, too, is the accompanying narrative that gives a crisp and readable account of events from the Gothic arrival in the empire to Alaric's sack of Rome...Germanic origins have long been concealed in forest mists, but Kulikowski's study of the Goths brings much to light and is not to be missed."
Lawrence A. Tritle, Loyola Marymount University, Military History
Product details
November 2006Adobe eBook Reader
9780511247705
0 pages
0kg
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Prologue: before the gates of Rome
- 1. The Goths before Constantine
- 2. The Roman Empire and the barbarian society
- 3. The search for the Gothic origins
- 4. Imperial politics and the rise of Gothic power
- 5. Goths and Romans, 332–376
- 6. The Battle of Adrianople
- 7. Theodosius and the Goths
- 8. Alaric and the sack of Rome.
